1984 – Russ Gregg

The Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association is proud to announce that Russ Gregg of Columbus Whitehall High School is the recipient of the 1984 Paul Walker Award. The Paul Walker Award is presented annually by the OHSBCA to an active coaching member of the association who has made significant contributions to high school basketball. The award is named in honor of the late Paul Walker, the long time coach of Middletown High School. At the time of his retirement, he had the most wins as a boys basketball coach in Ohio High School Basketball history.

Russ Gregg of Whitehall High School, a 30-year veteran of Ohio High School Basketball coaching wars, was honored prior to the AAA championship game by being named winner of the Paul Walker Award.

Russ graduated from Ashville Harrison High School in 1945 and The Ohio State University in 1955. He started his coaching career at Jackson Township as a part-time coach in 1948 and was 6-2. He was at Ashville Harrison for seven years where he won 129 while losing 27. From 1962-68 he was at Teays Valley with an 87-38 record.

Eighteen years (1968-84 and 1987-89) were spent coaching at Whitehall. His teams won 15 league titles (1970, 1974, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984 at Whitehall); (1956, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962 at Ashville); (1963, 1964, 1966 at Teays Valley). In addition they won 10 sectionals, four districts (Ashville – 1960 and Whitehall – 1971, 1982, 1984); two regional runner-up (Ashville – 1960 and Whitehall – 1984); and were first in the AP and UPI polls at Whitehall in 1983. He won six Pickaway County Tournaments while at Ashville. Overall his teams won 439 while losing 233 for 65.3%

Along the way he had two undefeated regular seasons and a 46 straight season win streak. Among his honors were Class AA Coach of the Year, Charter Inductee into District 10 Coaches Hall of Fame, Head Coach in AA North-South All-Star game, six times Ohio Capitol Conference Coach of the Year, Central District AA Coach of the Year, President of the District 10 Coaches Association and Central District Officials Association. Russ served as President of Teays Valley Teachers Association.

His other duties included 17 years as head baseball coach (206-138), seven years as head football coach (31-27). His family includes wife, Clara, children Rex, Allen, Van Arthur, and Mitzi (Gregg) Buck. There are six grandchildren – Eric, Russ, Julie, Diana, Shannon and Shane.