01-04-2025
West Branch moving on from 8-time conference champion head coach
BELOIT, Ohio (WKBN) – Veteran girls basketball coach Walt DeShields has been informed that he will not return as the head coach at West Branch High School.
According to a source, Coach DeShields was told the district is 'moving in a different direction.'
During his 20 years leading the Warriors' program, DeShields led West Branch to 379 victories, as well as eight league titles, 17 sectional championships, seven district titles, and a pair of regional titles.
In addition, DeShields led West Branch to the State Final Four in both 2015 and 2020, which was cut short due to COVID.
He was recently named the Eastern Buckeye Conference Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season, as well as the Northeast Inland District Coach of the Year.
DeShields earned the prestigious Sportsmanship, Ethics & Integrity Award from the OHSAA in 2024, along with the Bob Arzen Award for 20 or more consecutive years at the same school.
West Branch finished the 2024-25 campaign with an overall record of 22-3 and claimed back-to-back conference titles.
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