HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
ARCH JUSTUS,
PORTSMOUTH CLAY
1995 RECIPIENT
In coaching there is no 'secret method' to use. Sometimes we forget where an idea came from, but take what works best for an individual and move forward from there.
Arch Justus graduated from
Bloom Local High School, South Webster, Ohio in 1946. He received a Bachelor
of Science Degree in Mathematics from Cedarville College in 1950 and a
Master's Degree in School Administration from Morehead State University in
1968. Arch participated in basketball and baseball both in high school and
college.
Justus began his teaching career in 1950 as a mathematics teacher the Clay
Local School District in Scioto County. He became a registered basketball
official and baseball umpire during this period. He accepted his first
coaching position in 1953 as the basketball and baseball coach in McDermott
High School in Scioto County. His basketball team the first year won the
school's first league and tournament championship in 29 attempts. McDermott
High School was a member of the "Sweet Sixteen" in 1955. After leaving
McDermott High School, he coached two years at Oak Hill.
Coach Justus returned to Portsmouth Clay in 1958 and remained there for 25
years. He also coached a year at Minford in 1983-84. After his retirement
from active duties in school administration in 1983, he complete his
coaching career at Lucasville Valley where his cherished 500th win was
recorded in January 1986.
During 33 years of active coaching, Justus' teams compiled a record of 532
wins and 220 losses, including 18 league/conference titles, 20
county/sectional and six district tournament championships. His teams
appeared in four regional finals and one state tournament in 1969. He serves
as a member of the South coaching staff in the 1969 North-South All-Star
game. He was also selected SE District Coach of the Year three times, and
received the Life Member Award in 1987 to the Naismith Memorial Hall of
Fame. Arch had the unusual experience of serving as a head basketball coach
while serving as a math teacher, a high school principal, a local
superintendent and after his retirement as a school administrator!
Arch and wife Joann, an elementary teacher, reside in Portsmouth Ohio have
two sons, Jeff and John.
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