On the visitor’s side, WSHS head coach Ed Calo played for Westerville High School until he graduated in 1975. By the time he returned to the District to teach history and coach basketball in 1986, WHS became Westerville South.
His assistant coach, Trevor Kielmeyer, played for him in high school and graduated from Westerville South in 1992.
Along the sidelines, cheerleading coaches — Keshia Howell at Westerville Central and Bri Swanson at Westerville South — stood near their respective teams. They are alums too: Howell graduated in 2006 while Swanson graduated in 2012.
Four members of the Guice family sat in the visitor stands, including: Jermaine Guice, a 1990 Westerville South graduate who has led the girls' basketball team since 2016; Peyton McBride, a 2017 Westerville South alum who teaches at Westerville Central but coaches three sports at her alma mater; and Nelia Guice, a 2023 alum who recently completed her first year coaching girls' basketball at Blendon Middle School—where she was once a student.
In Westerville City Schools, about one in four coaches across the District’s middle and high schools are alumni.
This year also marks history for the boys basketball program at the District. With Shawver at the helm of WCHS’ team for the first time, he joins Calo and WNHS’ head coach Shan Trusley as graduates who now coach for teams they once played for.
This year, more than 90 coaching positions are filled by WCSD graduates. They have returned to continue traditions and give back to a community that has provided so much during their high school journey. And their experiences as a student has shaped their approach to coaching.
Meet some of the Westerville alumni who serve as coaches across the District.
ED CALO
Westerville High School, Class of 1975
Calo and his family moved to Westerville after his sophomore year in high school. He played basketball for two seasons in high school and later at Slippery Rock University before graduating in 1979.
He began his coaching career in 1980, when he served as an assistant at Franklin Heights and later at Grove City. In 1986, he joined the South staff and served as an assistant for one year before accepting the head coaching position.
Why did you want to coach at your alma mater?
I think there’s something special about being at the place that you started. When the opportunity presented itself and living in Westerville and being a graduate, I pretty much jumped at it.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
You have pride in what you do. There’s a little bit extra juice when you talk about being at your alma mater. You get that little bit more incentive. You feel like you know you are part of it. You feel like you know a lot of people there and you’re letting people down if you weren’t at your best.
What has it meant to you to be able to coach at South?
It’s special. You can coach a lot of places but to be here, it’s special.
As you reflect on your time here, what stands out?
We’ve been fortunate to have some really good players, some really hard-working young men. We’ve been fortunate enough to win some championships here. But what stands out is the relationships you develop with young people.
SHAN TRUSLEY
Westerville North, Class of 1988
Shortly after graduating from Westerville North, Trusley returned to the District to coach while he was a student at Otterbein University. He was an assistant basketball coach at Walnut Springs Middle School, then took on the head freshman basketball coaching job at Westerville North the following year.
He continued to coach throughout college and after he graduated, he returned to Westerville North to teach. He became head boys basketball coach in 2013.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
I know the kids are aware I used to be where they are. So there’s a connection there. The classrooms they were in, I was in. The hallways they walked, I walked. The gym that they play in, I played in. I’m really invested in what happens here. I always talk to the kids about how the guys I went to school with, they still care about what goes on here and one day, they’ll care. It’s one big family. You get that at all schools.
What has it meant to you to be able to coach at North?
It means everything to me. I’m real big on family. People helping people. That’s why I’m here. I had a special time while I was here. I wanted to give back. I always talk to the kids about being part of something bigger than yourself. I think the kids get that – they are more than just athletes. They are students, brothers, sons.
I wouldn’t want to coach anywhere else. I made it the goal to come back here knowing it might not happen. This place is special.
As you reflect on your time here, what stands out?
The kids that play for us and then leave here, they all end up great people. They are happy and successful. Some of them went on to coach themselves. They are involved in other fields. That’s the coolest thing. Guys will come back and watch games.
It’s a special place because we’re all connected.
JERMAINE GUICE
Westerville South, Class of 1990
After Westerville South, Guice continued his basketball career, playing at Butler University and then professionally for 14 seasons. He played in the minor leagues before going overseas to play in countries such as Portugal, Australia, Israel, and France.
Guice retired from basketball in 2008 and returned home, where he reached out to his former basketball coach about volunteering at the high school. Calo welcomed him back and Guice spent 10 seasons as an assistant for him. When the head coach position for the girls basketball team opened up in 2019, Calo encouraged him to apply.
“For him to think of me in a way to bring me onto his staff and then to say, ‘Hey you are ready for the next step,’” Guice said. “He played a part in me coming back.”
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
Being an alum, being from the building and seeing the tradition and the way teams play over here, you just want to continue that. You want to continue that sense of pride you had as a player. You want to have that pride affiliated with the program. That’s how I approach it.
What has it meant to you to be able to coach at South?
It’s a great pleasure to come back and coach at your alma mater. Spending time developing kids and building relationships with kids who hopefully go on to have successful futures and try to teach them, I’ve truly enjoyed it.
ERIC CALLAND
Westerville South, Class of 2003
After graduating from Westerville South, Calland attended Capital University where he majored in Integrated Social Studies and played football for four years. His first teaching job was at Clear Fork High School in Bellville, Ohio, where he was also hired to coach defensive backs on the football team.
In 2015, Calland returned to his alma mater to serve as a social studies teacher and join the football staff. He served as a defensive coordinator for both Coach Kyle Stout and Coach Matt Christ. When Christ resigned from the position in 2023, Calland felt like it was the “right thing to do to pursue the head coaching position.”
“Becoming a head football coach was never a huge personal goal of mine — I just simply wanted to do what was right for our team and our school. That said, I've been extremely grateful and honored for the opportunity to lead this football program and I'm excited to guide it for many years to come.”
Why did you want to coach at your alma mater?
When you become a coach in the community that shaped you personally and you add the fact that it's still your home and where your kids are attending, it just means a little more. There's an extra sense of urgency to get things done at a high level. It's a large responsibility, but one that I feel lucky to be able to be able to pursue.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
Whether it's in the classroom or on the field, just being present on our campus is a constant reminder of the experiences I had. I'm able to quickly remember my experiences as a student and keep that perspective as I teach and coach at South. Everything that we do here could potentially have a huge impact down the road so that's how I try to approach every day.
ANTHONY FORREST
Westerville North, Class of 2006
After Westerville North, Forrest attended Ohio State University as a Molecular Genetics Pre-Med major. Interested in building his resume and future job applications with unique volunteer experiences, Forrest reached out to his former varsity baseball coaches at Westerville North — Jeff Keifer and Eric Nickel — about possible opportunities. That path took him to coaching football at Genoa Middle School and baseball at Westerville Central High School all throughout college. Since then, he has coached varsity football for 10 years, baseball for 17 years and now Girls Golf at Westerville Central.
Why did you want to coach in the District?
Even though I don't coach directly at my alma mater I do feel like I am at home because I still get to work and coach with my former coaches and mentors.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
My biggest takeaway from being an alum is knowing the importance of “Ruling the ‘Ville.” Growing up when it was just the two high schools and going to those big time North-South rivalry games instilled the pride it meant to Rule the Ville. Since then, that is a major focal point for our teams.
What has it meant to you to be able to coach at Central?
It means the world to me. I absolutely love what I get to do and who I get to share these experiences with. As coaches, we spend so much time invested with our student-athletes and coaching staff that in season we see each other more than our families. Being able to share these life experiences with quality individuals makes this a very rewarding part of my job. Throughout my 17 years of coaching, I'm very fortunate to have coached with some of my best friends. The bonds that have been forged through our successes, tough times and countless hours together makes Central my home away from home.
KEISHA HOWELL
Westerville Central, Class of 2006
After graduating from Westerville Central, Howell cheered for the Ohio State All Girl Cheerleading program. She cheered for four years and was named one of the three captains as well as the treasurer during her last year. She was also a two-time NCA All-American athlete while she cheered in college.
After her college cheer days, she coached at All-Star cheerleading for 13 years. She got her first high school cheer coaching experience at Walnut Ridge High School as an assistant coach with a mentor. Two years after coaching at Walnut Ridge, she became JV cheer coach at Westerville Central before becoming the head coach the following year.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
Being an alum has helped to see how I can bring back some of the old school spirit we had in the first days of WCHS. It also helped to understand the struggles my athletes go through with navigating school work, being an athlete, and wanting to push themselves to achieve their goals.
DAN BICHSEL
Westerville North, Class of 2012
After graduating from North, Bichsel attended Lourdes University in Sylvania, Ohio to play lacrosse and study Education. After he received his bachelor’s degree, he was a grad assistant coaching lacrosse while working on his MBA. He returned to Westerville where he applied and was hired for the lacrosse coaching position at Westerville North. He is also a seventh grade social studies teacher and athletic director at Walnut Springs.
Why did you want to coach at your alma mater?
My family has been a part of the North lacrosse team for over 15 years. So once I graduated, I was still tied to the North lacrosse team, hearing the scores and all the updates from each season. I really wanted to rebuild the culture at North and bring back the experiences and joy I had during my playing time. (During my first two years, my brother was on the team which also helped with my why.)
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
Games mean a lot more. You want to come everyday and give 110% not just because you're a competitor, but it is also the same place you went to high school. People that I played with have started re-following North lacrosse and coming to the games. It definitely means more when you have a lot of history with the program.
We also teach “representing North” in a positive light. I want these kids to have a positive look at North when they leave. I want them to come back to North and coach lacrosse because they enjoyed their time on the team and left with a positive experience. It really means a lot more when it is your alma mater because you are representing the current team but also the teams of the past.
What has it meant to you to be able to coach at North?
Coaching at North has been an amazing experience. I have been able to meet some really awesome people throughout my time that all share the common interest in giving back to sports and building and shaping young men and women. Wes Elifritz does an amazing job of promoting and supporting each sport and building a strong coaching staff that can work together to give each athlete a positive experience. It is easy to coach at a school with a strong leader because you know you are going to be supported and get the things that you need in order to be successful. It is like a family at North and every program wants the others to succeed just as bad as their own. I love coaching at North because of that family aspect. Most of the spring coaches are the same coaches that were coaches or taught me when I was at school so it has been fun to be on the other side of things with them.
The best part about coaching has definitely been watching the kids do things after high school — whether that be playing at the next level, the work force, or school. It has been a really fun experience seeing what the kids do after high school lacrosse is over. We do an alumni game every year and have had people come back from as long as 2010 graduates so watching them and the current players interact is always a fun experience.
NICK HORTON
Westerville North, Class of 2014
After graduating from Westerville North, Horton attended Ohio Wesleyan University where he majored in Middle Childhood Education and was a member of the cross country and track teams. Upon graduating from Ohio Wesleyan in 2018, he approached the Westerville North boys head coach to see if he needed any help with that upcoming cross country season. Coach Dave Weaner welcomed Horton back to the team, where he served as a volunteer coach for three seasons. After Weaner decided to retire after the 2020 season, Horton was named the next head coach of the program.
Horton also teaches history at Blendon Middle School and science at Minerva Park Middle School.
Why did you want to coach at your alma mater?
The main reason I wanted to come back and coach at my alma mater was because of the impact being a member of this program had on my life. Throughout my four years of cross country in high school, I gained lifelong friends as well as learned some valuable life lessons and skills that have made me the person I am today. I wanted to coach this team to be able to pay it forward to the next generation of North graduates and pass on as many of those life lessons as I could.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
I am very proud to be an alum of Westerville North and of the cross country and track programs. We have such a rich history of excellence on the cross country course with many OCC, district, regional, state, and even national champions that I want to do my best to carry forth that legacy. I was lucky enough to be a part of some of those successful teams and I want to do everything that I can to help these athletes today experience that success as well. Also, as I mentioned before, being a part of this program has helped shape me into the person I am today. I want to continue to build a culture that allows any athlete the opportunity to gain valuable life lessons and skills that will help them succeed in their next phase of life.
What has it meant to you to be able to coach at North?
I have been extremely honored to be the head coach of this program for the last four years. In the almost 50 year history of this school, there have only been five or six head cross country coaches so to be one of those select few is definitely a high honor. I take a lot of pride in representing Westerville and Westerville North in the best way possible.
MEGAN HOOVER
Westerville North, Class of 2016
After Westerville North, Hoover jumped into co-coaching WNHS' freshman cheerleading team with a former Warrior teammate. It was a natural move for Hoover, who hosted many youth events and had opportunities to lead. She was also part of a local all-star cheerleading team and led many classes and "tiny"/"mini"/"youth" teams in the program.
While at Capital University, she cheered all 4 years at the collegiate level while working with the Freshman, JV, and Competition teams at WNHS. After graduating from Capital in 2020, she has served as head coach of WNHS' cheer program where she hopes to contribute to the growth and success of the student-athletes that have come through the program.
Why did you want to coach at your alma mater?
Community. I have learned, grown, and have the best support system from my alma mater. That type of environment is contagious and people want to be part of that.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
Coaching, to me, is ever changing. During my time as a student-athlete we didn't have the opportunities in the cheer program as we do today. Many of those opportunities have come from student-athletes wanting more. To provide them with resources and opportunities to make memories with their teammates is a constant driver in the way that I coach.
MAX SHAWVER
Westerville Central, Class of 2018
After Westerville Central, Shawver played four years of college football at Ashland University and received a degree in Integrated Social Studies. He spent one year at Ashland High School as a teacher and basketball coach before receiving a job at Westerville Central to teach and coach both basketball and football in 2018. He became the head boys basketball coach at Johnstown High School from 2021-2023. He was named the head boys basketball coach at Westerville Central last year.
Why did you want to coach at your alma mater?
Westerville Central is home to me. Some of my best memories in life come from Central High School, including meeting my wife. We now have two children with a third on the way in May. My biggest mentors and leaders in life also come from my high school experience.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
Being an alumni means that every game, every practice, every drill, means just a little bit more to me. Everything that I do as a coach at Central I take personally. I truly work as hard as I can to represent Westerville Central to the best of my ability every single day I wear the black & silver.
PEYTON MCBRIDE
Westerville South, Class of 2019
After graduating from Westerville South, McBride received a full scholarship to play basketball at Ohio University. While her seasons were riddled with injuries, she received her bachelor's degree in mathematics and master’s degree in math education. After she graduated, McBride returned to Westerville where she teaches math at Westerville Central. She is an assistant basketball coach for her father, Jermaine Guice, at Westerville South as well as the girl’s head track coach. She also coached the JV girls volleyball team.
Why did you want to coach at your alma mater?
Westerville South gave me so many opportunities and I wanted to be able to do the same for the new generation. There aren't too many diverse female coaches in the district and I wanted to give athletes someone to look to as “if she can do it, I can too.” South was my home and so being able to come back has just been incredible.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
I feel I can bring a unique perspective being a former collegiate student-athlete to those players who want to reach the next level. I know the energy, time, and work it takes to reach the next level. I also feel as though for those who are just doing this for now, I can bring real-life experiences too. Show them how sports can help and almost directly translate to the real world as well.
What has it meant to you to be able to coach in Westerville?
It has been an honor to come home and start positively affecting these young student-athletes. To be able to share experiences and try to make a positive impact on these students has just been incredible! I love what I do and I wouldn't want it to be any other way!
NELIA GUICE
Westerville South, Class of 2023
Guice is currently attending Ohio State University where she is studying education. She planned to support her dad, Jermaine Guice, as a coach when she learned about an opening for an eighth-grade girls basketball coach at Blendon Middle School. She recently wrapped up her first season and plans to be the sprinting coach for Blendon’s track team this spring.
How has your experiences as an alum shaped your approach to coaching?
I went to Blendon. I went to Westerville South. I was in their shoes. I played on the same courts as they did. I went through the same stuff. So using that to bridge the gap and let the girls know, 'Hey I went through the same things. I was in middle school once too.' It helps me be more relatable and easy to talk to for some of the girls.
Why did you want to coach at your alma mater?
I’ve wanted to come home to teach. When the opportunity arose to coach, I couldn’t pass it up. Westerville is a warm and welcoming environment and it’s once you’re in it, they want you to come back. It gives people an incentive to stay connected to the community.
What has it meant to you to be able to coach in Westerville?
It’s been really awesome. Blendon has been amazing. The girls were amazing to me. They impacted my life in an amazing way. They were a good group for my first real structured coaching experience. They made me want to come and coach every day.