Former coach and athletic director receives state leadership award

Longtime Walla Walla High School coach, teacher and administrator Bill Bieloh recently received the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Gareth Giles’ Memorial Recognition Award for his dedication and service to the state organization.

Bieloh coached basketball and baseball in the 60s and 70s at Walla Walla High School before serving as the school’s athletic director for 18 years. He retired from the school district in 2004 as the district’s Executive Director of Personnel. In 2003, Bieloh was elected to the Washington Secondary Schools Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame. Bieloh is one of only two athletic directors from the state of Washington to serve on the National Interscholastic Athletics Administrators Association Executive board.

Bieloh credits former Walla Walla High School coach and Athletic Director Felix Fletcher as his mentor.

“I was very fortunate to sign on with a district that allowed me a lot of latitude to develop a great program,” Bieloh said. “Athletics is all I knew so I was passionate about helping others be successful.”