2011 Inductee Duane Warns, Coach, 1964-1990
Although Duane Warns did not graduate from Bellevue High School, he left his mark through his years as a teacher, coach and administrator, touching the lives of hundreds of student-athletes along the way.
A 1957 graduate of Hopewell-Loudon High School in Bascom, OH, Duane received his undergraduate degree from Heidelberg College and his Master’s from Bowling Green State University.
He began what would be 46 years in education by teaching three years at Hopewell-Loudon High School before making his way to Bellevue in 1964. Once in Bellevue, Duane settled in as the high school physical education teacher from 1964-74. He was also the head basketball coach during the same time period, compiling an overall record of 120 wins and 83 losses. Once he gave up coaching in 1974, he stood first on the all-time coaching win list. He also led the team to two Northern Ohio League championships in 1969 and 1970.
Duane also found time to coach baseball for three years, was assistant track coach, and was a junior high school football coach.
In 1974, Duane became Bellevue High School athletic director, a position he held until 1978 when he took over as assistant principal. In 1980, the opportunity arose for Duane to become principal and he held that position for the next 10 years.
In 1990, Duane applied for and was hired as an Assistant Commissioner for the Ohio High School Athletic Association. For the next 17 years Duane faithfully served student-athletes all over Ohio. His duties with the OHSAA had him overseeing the sports of basketball, ice hockey, softball and tennis. He was one of the OHSAA’s chief rules regulators and was the chairman of the Sportsmanship, Ethics and Integrity Committee for 12 years.
In June of 2007, Duane received the OHSAA’s Ethics and Integrity Award which is presented annually to an Ohioan who has displayed outstanding traits of ethical behavior and integrity and is a role model for others. That same year he received the National Federation of State High School Associations “Citation” which is awarded for outstanding contributions in interscholastic athletics.
Duane is a member of both the Hopewell-Loudon and Heidelberg College Athletic Halls of Fame.
Duane is retired in resides in Dublin, OH with his wife, Nancy. They are parents of three children and six grandchildren.