Leday named Menlo's new basketball coach

Yes, the Knights are definitely serious, making it official Friday morning by naming Leday as the successor to Kris Weems, who took a position with the Golden State Warriors in late June. Leday takes over after spending three season with the Knights' frosh-soph team, finishing last year with a record of 17-2.

"It's truly an honor to continue what coach Weems has started," Leday said. "To know the feeling that, I'm the guy that will be leading the program, it's just ecstatic. Everyone in my family is excited because they know this is something that I've wanted as a coach -- to be in a position where we can compete night in and night out. We have a wonderful staff, great parents, the backing of the school; it's just a great community. It's a perfect place."

Leday takes over a program that went 13-13 last season, including 8-6 in the West Bay Athletic League and a 1-1 run in the postseason.

"Delandro's deep passion for Menlo and our student-athletes, as well as his experience as a high school coach, made him the best choice to build upon the tremendous program that coach Kris Weems started," said Menlo athletic director Craig Schoof is press release. "We are extremely excited to have a person with Delandro's values and commitment take over the reins from coach Weems."

It was a process that started a month ago when Weems accepted a position with the Warriors. Leday said he and Weems met to discuss his decision and the future of Menlo's basketball program. Leday, who's been a head coach before (at Irvington High in Fremont), knew he'd be a perfect fit.

Fast forward four weeks and it appears the Knights couldn't have agreed more.

"One of the advantages I had, even being the frosh-soph coach, is I've had the honor of coaching every player that's in the program right now -- with the exception of Richard Harris who was a sophomore when he was moved up to play varsity," Leday said. "It's just great knowing that I've been around all those kids, I'm not new to anyone of them, they know what I expect from them and they know what they're going to get from me. So, it makes it easier to move forward with things."

Leday's knowledge of the players and the program has him setting his sights on great things.

"The thing we want to accomplish is, we want to compete. We're going to compete at a high level. When you seen Menlo, you'll understand that you're going to be in a fight. We're coming to compete," Leday said.

"We have a great group of seniors, we have some really good juniors and a great class of freshman who will be sophomores competing at the varsity level as well. Our expectations, we don't set them in terms of number of wins and losses, but we expect to be right there in terms of competing for the championship. And that's all across the board.

"I know it's a high expectation," he said. "But it's one of those things I tell the kids. One thing I learned about the school is, 'We Are Menlo,' not to sound arrogant, but we hold ourselves to a higher standard. I want them to think that that's how we are going to compete. We're not just competing for a league title, first round playoffs and then we're out of there. No. We're coming to compete for everything."

Leday spent seven seasons at Irvington, three as the head coach of the program.

"(I'm a) better teacher, (have a) better knowledge of the game. Not being the main guy for two years, I spent that time wisely, watching other coaches, learning the game, watching the game, reading books. I think my overall knowledge of the game has gotten better. One thing I pat myself on the back is that I'm a great communicator with the kids.

"We want to play at St. Mary's College on Martin Luther (King) Day, we want to get to that level," Leday said of his goals for the Knight program. "To where we're playing in those prestigious type of games. We want the reason why people come out to watch -- you know, Menlo's playing."