{"id":1068,"date":"2023-02-28T01:30:39","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T01:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.luceosports.com\/oh\/?page_id=1068"},"modified":"2026-07-21T05:13:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T05:13:25","slug":"coaches-association-newsletter-2023-february","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.luceosports.com\/oh\/blog\/coaches-association-newsletter-2023-february\/","title":{"rendered":"Coaches Association Newsletter February 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Paul Walker Award Goes to Denny Tucci
<\/strong>The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association is proud to announce that Denny Tucci of Malvern High School is the recipient of the 2023 Paul Walker Award. The Paul Walker Award is presented annually by the OHSBCA to an active coaching member of the association who has made significant contributions to high school basketball. The award is named in honor of the late Paul Walker, the longtime coach of Middletown High School. At the time of his retirement, he had the most wins as a boys\u2019 basketball coach in Ohio High School Basketball history.

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Denny Tucci, Malvern High School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThe Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association would like to congratulate Denny Tucci of Malvern High School on receiving the prestigious Paul Walker Award,\u201d stated Joe Balogh, Executive Director. This award is presented to an active coach who has made significant contributions to Ohio high school basketball. Coach Tucci has won over 500 games in his coaching career and has been actively involved as a district director in our association.\u201d

Denny is a 1979 graduate of Malvern High School where he lettered in basketball, football, and baseball. He graduated from Marietta College in 1983 with his teaching degree. While at Marietta, he played basketball for two years and was a student assistant for two years with the men\u2019s basketball and women\u2019s softball programs.

Denny started his coaching career at Parkersburg Catholic in 1984 where he spent three years as the head girls basketball coach and one year as the head boys basketball coach. In four years, he compiled a record of 66-32 and won two state championships with the girls basketball program. In 1987, he accepted the head boys basketball coaching position at Louisville High School. He held that position for three years.

In 1991, Coach Tucci had the opportunity to return to his alma mater, Malvern High School, and serve as the head boys basketball coach. He held this position for 12 years and had a record of 159-110. He then spent three years at Marlington High School as the head boys basketball coach before returning to Malvern where he has served as the head boys basketball coach for the past 17 years.

During that 17 year run, Coach Tucci has an impressive record of 314-108. During his 29 years at Malvern he has compiled a record 473-218, while winning 4 league titles, 19 sectional championships, including 16 straight, and 6 district championships.

In 39 years as a head coach, Denny has an overall record of 567-348. He has received numerous league and district coaching honors throughout his career. He served as the District 5 Director from 2000-2002 and currently serves as a liaison for District 5. In 2008, he had the opportunity to coach in the OHSBCA North-South All-Star Game.

\u201cFor three decades, Coach Tucci has built a winning culture and climate in the Malvern Boys Basketball Program. More importantly, Denny Tucci has dedicated his career to making a positive impact on the lives of his players and students by teaching life lessons such as leadership, commitment, and dedication. Malvern High School and the entire Malvern community are proud and fortunate to call Coach Tucci one of our own,\u201d stated Brown Local Schools superintendent, Mark Scott.

Dave Tucci, Director of Athletics for the Brown Local School District stated, \u201cI am so proud of Denny\u2019s many accomplishments in his coaching career. I have seen first hand how much time he puts in. He has been a perfect fit at his alma mater, Malvern High School. Congratulations to Denny for winning the Paul Walker Award.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to coaching basketball, Denny also coached baseball and recently retired as the head baseball coach at Malvern High School after 16 years of service. Denny resides in Malvern with his wife of 34 years, Paula. Together, they have four sons, Tyler (32), Travis (29), Trey (27), and Tripp (15). They are also blessed to have four grandchildren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic All-Ohio
<\/strong>Each year a committee of the OHSBCA selects its \u201cAcademic All Ohio Teams\u201d for the school year. 2022-23 will mark the thirtieth year that the association has chosen \u201cAll Ohio Academic Teams.\u201d

The players are selected for this honor based on their academic excellence and their athletic contributions to their basketball teams.
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Bob Arnzen Award Winners
<\/strong>The Bob Arznen Award was named after the legendary boys coach at Delphos St. John\u2019s High School. Coach Arznen spent 43 years as the Head Coach and was the second winningest coach at the time of his retirement and now sixth in the history of Ohio High School Basketball with 676 wins and only 291 losses. Bob was inducted into the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995.

The Bob Arnzen Award is given to those basketball coaches who have devoted 20 consecutive years or more service to the same school and for their loyalty and commitment to Ohio High School basketball. The honorees will be presented their plaques during the games on Championship Saturday of their respective tournaments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 Bob Arnzen Award Winners
(Receives Bob Arnzen Plaque)
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