A new era of Cougar basketball is officially underway in Elnora. After legendary coach Brent Dalrymple's retirement following a 25-year tenure that included a Class A state title, North Daviess has found its successor. The school announced Friday that Paoli's highly successful coach, Dusty Cole, will be taking the reins.
Cole arrives with an impressive pedigree, fresh off a 26-1 season with Paoli that ended in a narrow 55-51 Regional loss to Linton. His coaching record speaks for itself: a stellar 244-94 mark over 14 seasons leading the Paoli boys' program, including a 180-45 record over the last nine seasons—the fourth-best in the state during that span. His accolades include four sectional championships in eight years and being named the 2026 HBCA District IV Coach of the Year.
A true multi-sport athlete from his own playing days at Paoli High School, Cole brings a competitive spirit and a proven track record of building winners. He and his family are eagerly anticipating joining the North Daviess community, where the expectations are high but the foundation is strong. As Superintendent Jodi Berry stated, landing a coach of Cole's caliber is a major win for the Cougars' future.