2026 John Wooden Legacy Awards

Witty, Gilbert receive Wooden Legacy Award for 2025-26

Former Ben Davis boys' coach, Heritage girls' coach cited for tenures of excellence

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Pat McKee, 317-403-1665

Feb. 25, 2026 IBCA Director of Special Projects

Two former successful high school basketball coaches have been recognized as the Indiana honorees for 2025-26 in the John Wooden Legacy Coaching Award program presented by the National High School Basketball Coaches Association, it was announced Wednesday (Feb. 25).

Steve Witty, retired former coach at Ben Davis, and Cheri Gilbert, retired former coach at Heritage, are the 2025-26 winners from the Hoosier state as nominated by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. The two were among the honorees from across the country in an NHSBCA program coordinated with the Wooden Family.

The award recognizes scholastic basketball coaches from around the nation who are educators and have achieved excellence on the floor, in the classroom and in the community that further embody the characteristics and legacy of the late John Wooden. The criteria for the award are rooted in the ideals of education, longevity, character, service and excellence.

Witty, 79, currently executive director emeritus of the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, compiled a 266-68 record – a .796 win percentage – in 13 seasons during a tenure from 1989-2002 on the Giants' sideline. His teams are best known for winning 1995 and 1996 state titles after a state runner-up finish in 1993 and another State Finals berth in 1994.

In addition, Witty's teams won seven sectionals, six regionals, four semi-state and three Marion County Tournament championships. His teams also won 64 consecutive games against Marion County opponents, and they were ranked No. 1 in the state for portions of 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001 and 2002.

A 1965 graduate of Center Grove, Witty was a three-year letterman for the Trojans and was a winner of the Mid-State Conference Mental Attitude Award. He matriculated to Franklin College, earning a bachelor's degree in education in 1969 while earning three letters for the Grizzlies. He later earned a master's degree from Indiana University in 1974 and a secondary administrative degree from Butler University in 1980.

Witty started his coaching career in 1969 as an assistant coach for six seasons at Indianapolis Manual (1969-75). He followed by assisting Steve Coffman for two seasons at Beech Grove (1975-77), one season for Dick Harmening at Franklin Community (1977-78) and 11 seasons at Ben Davis (1978-89) before following Gayle Towles as the Ben Davis head coach from 1989-90 through 2001-02.

As a head coach, Witty was honored six times as Marion County Coach of the Year, three times as an IBCA District 3 Coach of the Year (1993, 2001 and 2002) and twice as Indiana's state Coach of the Year (1995 and 1996). He was named Indiana All-Star head coach in 1994, named a Sagamore of the Wabash honoree by Gov. Evan Bayh in 1997, inducted into the Franklin College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007 and inducted to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

As a head coach, Witty coached 1995 Indiana Mr. Basketball Damon Frierson as well as three additional Indiana All-Stars (Don Mallory, 1994; Courtney James, 1995; James Patterson, 1995) – and one Junior All-Star (Aaron Patterson, 2000).

Witty became executive director of the IBCA in 2002 and served in that role until 2022, the longest tenured person in that position. He now is in his fourth season as IBCA executive director emeritus. In addition to his role with the IBCA, Witty was instrumental in the founding of the NHSBCA in 2004. He served as NHSBCA vice president from 2004 to 2016, was chosen for the NHSBCA's inaugural class of its Court of Honor in 2012 and remains an NHSBCA board member emeritus. He also is a past president of the National Organization of Coaches Association Directors.

Witty also has been involved in the leadership of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, serving as executive vice president from 2015-17, president from 2017-19 and past president from 2019-21.

Witty and his late wife, Jeanie, are parents of two adult children – Derick and Kara – and four grandchildren.

Gilbert, 71, is honored after compiling a 162-40 record – a .802 win percentage – in 10 seasons as coach at Heritage. She coached the Patriots to the 1982 IHSAA state championship victory, her school having the smallest enrollment of any of Indiana’s one-class girls’ basketball state champions.

Her teams also made State Finals appearances in 1978 and 1983. Her 1982 champ and 1983 State Finalist team were a combined 50-3, and she had a 90-8 record over four seasons from 1981-1985. In all, her teams won five Allen County Athletic Conference titles, five sectionals, three regionals and three semi-states.

Gilbert spent 40 years at Heritage from 1977 to 2017. Her time there included 10 years as a coach, 34 years as a teacher and six years as athletic director. She taught health, physical education and a careers class while in the classroom, and she also assisted for awhile in the guidance office.

A 1972 graduate of Woodlan High School, the former Cheri Shanebrook participated in volleyball and softball (but not basketball, as it was not offered) in the Indiana League of the Girls Athletic Association. She did play six-player basketball in junior high and also was a cheerleader in high school. She matriculated to Ball State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in education in 1976, and later earned a master’s degree in education from IP-Fort Wayne in 1979.

Gilbert became a teacher and coach at Heritage starting in 1977-78, noting that when she was hired as a teacher, she also served as girls’ basketball coach, volleyball coach, cheerleading coach and prom sponsor. Her first basketball team went 16-5, reaching the State Finals before falling to eventual champion Warsaw.

Her top players were Jody Beerman (1983 Indiana Miss Basketball, 1983 Mental Attitude Award winner, two-time AP first-team All-State selection, 1982 State Finals MVP, 2010 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductee) and Carol Blauvelt (1978 Mental Attitude Award winner, 1978 all-State Finals, 2007 Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductee). Other notable players were Rita Boyle (1982 AP third-team All-State, 1982 all-State Finals), Jennie Owen (two-time AP honorable mention All-State), Kim Shroyer (1982 AP honorable mention All-State) and Terri Lydy (1985 AP honorable mention All-State).

Gilbert’s father, Bill Shanebrook, was an assistant coach during her first season. Her husband, Dave Gilbert, was an assistant coach in her final nine seasons on the sideline. She stepped down as coach at the end of the 1986-87 season, but she continued her career in education while raising two daughters – Brooke Reeves, 38, and Morgan Gilbert Wilson, 36.

Gilbert was named 1982 Ball State Alumni Coach of the Year and received the 1984 Nancy Rehm Memorial Award for outstanding leadership and contributions to women’s sports in the Fort Wayne area. She was inducted into the Heritage Hall of Fame in 1991 and into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. Heritage named its gymnasium floor in her honor in 2022, and she was recognized as the Northeast Indiana Female Advocate of the Year in 2023.

Greg Wooden, grandson of John Wooden, wrote a letter to each winner of the Wooden Legacy Coaching Award in that stated:

“Our family cannot express how excited we are that you are receiving the NHSBCA Wooden Legacy Coaching Award. My grandfather, John R. Wooden, devoted his life to making an impact in the lives of others through the game of basketball. His passion was teaching, and there was no group that he was more passionate about that subject than coaches.

“The fact that you are receiving this award is a testament to a long-standing commitment you have made as a teacher/coach within your community. You are receiving this award because you embody many traits that my grandfather felt were vital to success.

“I know that if my grandfather were here today, he would feel that it was an honor to meet you and congratulate you on your success. In his memory, our family wants to do that for him. We appreciate you, and the commitment you have made to success. We could not be more thrilled that the NHSBCA has incorporated this award and could not be happier that you are its recipient in its inaugural year.”

John Wooden, namesake of the award, was an Indiana native, Martinsville High School graduate and Purdue University graduate. He was a three-time basketball all-state selection in high school, leading the Artesians to a state title as a junior in 1927 and to state runner-up finishes as a sophomore and senior in 1926 and 1928. He became a three-time All-America player at Purdue, helping the Boilermakers be named the Helms Athletic Foundation national champion in 1932.

Wooden later guided UCLA to a record 10 NCAA men’s national championships with a 620-147 mark after previously coaching at South Bend Central High School and Indiana State University. His 29-year college coaching record, including two seasons at Indiana State, was 664-162. His 11-year high school coaching record, including two seasons at Dayton (Ky.), was 218-42.

The National High School Basketball Coaches Association is a network of coaches’ associations from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, with a member from each state on its board of directors. The NHSBCA is the national voice for high school basketball coaches, working to foster high standards of professionalism and to support coaches.

NHSBCA JOHN WOODEN LEGACY COACHING AWARD

Winners from Indiana

2021-22: Gene Miiller, Washington boys, and Donna Sullivan, Seymour girls.

2022-23: Jack Butcher, Loogootee boys, and Cinda Rice Brown, Rushville girls.

2023-24: J.R. Holmes, Bloomington South boys, and Donna Cheatham, Scottsburg and Southwestern (Hanover) girls.

2024-25: Bill Patrick, Sidney/South Whitley/Whitko/Tippecanoe Valley boys, and Jan Conner, Warren Central/Benton Central/Martinsville/Lafayette Jefferson girls.

2025-26: Steve Witty, Ben Davis boys, and Cheri Gilbert, Heritage girls.

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