Legendary Ohio High School Coach Dies At 67

Plain Dealer

http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/7037062120090571934/girls-basketball-coach-pat-diulus-dies-at-age-67/

Pat Diulus, who rose to national prominence as a girls high school basketball coach during a career punctuated by run-ins with the OHSAA, died Tuesday after a brief illness.

Diulus, 67, died at the family home in Seven Hills, longtime friend and assistant coach Dave Tatham said.

Diulus coached Trinity and Regina to a total of nine state championships and nearly 600 victories in a career that spanned 25 years. Both programs became national powers.

In the process Diulus coached a countless number of players who went on to play collegiately, including Vonda Ward, Na’sheema Hillmon and Semeka Randall. All three earned the coveted Ms. Basketball Award, the most prestigious award in Ohio.

“Pat’s legacy will be more than just a basketball coach, said Tatham, who knew Diulus for 20 years and served as an assistant at both schools. What a lot of people might not know is the lengths he went to in getting his players college scholarships. His crowning achievement was that every girl that played for him was offered a scholarship. Even the kids who didn’t play that much. He also helped girls from other teams get help. I heard him many times tell a girl that if she got good grades, respected her parents and played hard he would help her find a school.”

Guard Keesha Allen was one of those players.

“Coach D was like a father figure to me, said Allen, who was an assistant coach under Diulus at Regina before being named head coach at Lake Ridge Academy. I’ve known him since I was 13. I would never have gotten to where I am now without his help and influence. This is a very tough time.”

Because of his success, Diulus became recognized nationally. He was on a first-name basis with most of the nation’s top college coaches, including Tennessee’s Pat Summit.

Legendary Ohio High School Coach Dies At 67

Plain Dealer

http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/7037062120090571934/girls-basketball-coach-pat-diulus-dies-at-age-67/

Pat Diulus, who rose to national prominence as a girls high school basketball coach during a career punctuated by run-ins with the OHSAA, died Tuesday after a brief illness.

Diulus, 67, died at the family home in Seven Hills, longtime friend and assistant coach Dave Tatham said.

Diulus coached Trinity and Regina to a total of nine state championships and nearly 600 victories in a career that spanned 25 years. Both programs became national powers.

In the process Diulus coached a countless number of players who went on to play collegiately, including Vonda Ward, Na’sheema Hillmon and Semeka Randall. All three earned the coveted Ms. Basketball Award, the most prestigious award in Ohio.

“Pat’s legacy will be more than just a basketball coach, said Tatham, who knew Diulus for 20 years and served as an assistant at both schools. What a lot of people might not know is the lengths he went to in getting his players college scholarships. His crowning achievement was that every girl that played for him was offered a scholarship. Even the kids who didn’t play that much. He also helped girls from other teams get help. I heard him many times tell a girl that if she got good grades, respected her parents and played hard he would help her find a school.”

Guard Keesha Allen was one of those players.

“Coach D was like a father figure to me, said Allen, who was an assistant coach under Diulus at Regina before being named head coach at Lake Ridge Academy. I’ve known him since I was 13. I would never have gotten to where I am now without his help and influence. This is a very tough time.”

Because of his success, Diulus became recognized nationally. He was on a first-name basis with most of the nation’s top college coaches, including Tennessee’s Pat Summit.