Eaglecrest hires Dustin Delaney from Kansas to be its new football coach
Eaglecrest has hired Dustin Delaney, a very successful coach in Kansas, to head its football program, the school announced on Wednesday.
Delaney spent the past five seasons as the head coach at Shawnee Mission East in Kansas, leading the school to a Class 6A championship in 2014, and a runner-up finish in 2013. His teams were 55-8 in his time as coach.
“Coach Delaney will have a significant, positive impact on our students — both academically and athletically,” Eaglecrest athletic director Vince Orlando said in a statement. “He is an outstanding tactician who will put our players in the best position to be successful.”
Delaney helped transformed the program at Shawnee Mission East into a perennial contender. He led SM East to its first-ever title game appearance in 2013, his first year as coach, and the team went unbeaten at 14-0 during its 2014 championship season.
Prior to coaching at Shawnee Mission East, Delaney was the head coach at Emporia (Kan.) from 2010-12, and his teams were 23-10. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator at Hutchinson (Kan.) from 2006-09, helping the school go 50-2 and win four state championships.
Delaney’s record as a head coach over eight seasons stands at 78-18.
“My family and I are extremely honored and excited to join the Eaglecrest community,” Delaney said in a statement. “I look forward to building on the foundation that has already been set in the Raptor football program.
“I want to thank principal Gwen Hansen-Vigil, athletic director Vince Orlando, and the entire interview committee for their time and diligence during this process,” he added. “All parties representing Eaglecrest High School thoroughly impressed me and made it an easy decision to join the Raptor family.
“I look forward to leading the football program and becoming part of the awesome Eaglecrest community.”
Delaney will also teach in Eaglecrest’s PE department. He takes over for Mike Schmitt, who resigned in December to move to Pennsylvania. Schmitt was Eaglecrest’s coach from 2010-17, going 49-40, and building one of 5A’s most consistent programs in recent years.
Eaglecrest advanced to the Class 5A state title game last fall, capping off an incredible two-year run that saw the Raptors go 24-2. Eaglecrest fell to Pomona in an epic championship matchup.
Though the Raptors do graduate a number of starters this spring, there are some key contributors who will return. Included are sophomore lineman Reece Atteberry and junior lineman Barrett Miller, who were both named first-team all-state.
Follow all of the coaching movement this offseason in our coaching changes tracker.
