Following nearly a month-long search, Bartlesville High School has their new boys' basketball coach, announcing the hiring of Jake Christenson.

 

Christenson was most recently the head coach at 4A Cushing, where he led the Tigers to a 19-9 season and the No. 13 ranking in Class 4A. He will replace Tommy DeSalme, who departed the program to take the head coach job at Garden City Community College.

 

Christenson says he's looking to get the Bruins back to the level they've been at.

 

Christenson has ties to the area as well, serving as head coach at Pawhuska from 2016-20, and also having stints at Barnsdall and Shidler. BHS Athletics and Activities Director Thad Dilbeck says it's a hire that makes sense.

 

The Bruins have only won three games each of the past two seasons. Christenson says he embraces the challenge.

 

This is the fourth Bruin coach since 2001, joining Tim Bart from 2001-13, Clent Stewart from 2014-24, and DeSalme last season.