The McCaskey High School athletic department announced the hiring of two new head basketball coaches. Dustin Salisbery, pictured left, the current coach/general manager of a local professional basketball team, will be the head boys basketball coach. Current McCaskey freshman boys basketball coach Kenneth “Kenny” Jason Jr., pictured right, will be the head girls basketball coach.
The personnel recommendations were announced April 11. The school board will vote on the appointments at its meeting on April 15.
Salisbery, McCaskey Class of 2003, was a four-year starter for the Red Tornado, earning all-state honors as a senior when he averaged 22 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists and led the team to the second round of the PIAA playoffs. He played collegiately at Temple, where he scored more than 1,200 points in 234 games over four seasons. He played for two legendary Pennsylvania basketball coaches—Steve Powell at McCaskey and John Chaney at Temple.
Salisbery competed professionally for 12 years, including in the G-League, which is the developmental league of the National Basketball Association, and internationally in countries such as France, Germany, Greece, and China. He’s also been a skills trainer and director of basketball camps at Spooky Nook Sports since 2021 and served as an assistant coach at La Academia Charter School for two seasons.
“To be able to come back to McCaskey and coach there, it’s a dream job,” Salisbery said. “I just want to be able to give the kids everything I’ve learned, from all the places I’ve played. My goal is to help make the guys better young men, prepare them for life, and to use basketball as a tool to get them there.”
Jason is also no stranger to McCaskey sports or the School District of Lancaster. He has been the boys basketball freshman head coach for the past two seasons. Jason is also community engagement coordinator at Union Community Care, based at Fulton Elementary School. He previously served as community school director at Fulton and as program coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club of Lancaster.
“We’re going to play with heart, high energy, discipline, McCaskey pride every single day, and we’re going to make our community proud,” Jason said. “I’m honored to lead this program and excited to continue building a culture where our girls grow as athletes, leaders, and confident young women.”
Both coaches said they are anxious to meet the players and connect with coaches at other levels.
“Both of these coaches are part of our community and active in the local basketball scene,” said McCaskey athletic director Teasia Myers-Pena. “One common priority for them is investing in our feeder programs and developing players from a young age. They are committed to having our teams be competitive at all levels, while developing our student-athletes on and off the court.”
In the recently completed season, the McCaskey boys finished 7-15, 5-5 in the Lancaster-Lebanon League while the girls went 2-19, 0-10 in the L-L League.