He was Mr. Hornet.
Dave Waller grew up in Coal Grove, was a three-sport standout, earned a college scholarship to play at Morehead State, then returned home to teach, coach and serve as the athletic director at his alma mater from 1967 to 1999.
That was Dave Waller’s occupation. That’s how he made his money to pay the bills.
But Coal Grove was more than a paycheck to Wall. It was his dream job, except maybe manager of the Cincinnati Reds.
I got a couple of press passes for a Reds game against the Pirates on a Friday night. The game was interrupted several times due to rain delays. The Pirates even traded a player during the game and the player was called back from the on deck circle during the game.
Since the game didn’t end until about 2 a.m., I told Wall he was going to have to drive home because I needed to get some sleep since I had to go to work in the morning.
But this was Dave Waller. He loved baseball and he loved the Reds. He was on a baseball high and we talked all the way home.
For all you basketball coaches during the Lee Moon era as the Marshall athletic director, you need to tip your hat to Wall.
Moon took away the courtesy of letting high school basketball coaches attend Marshall games at no charge if they sat in the general admission areas behind the baskets.
Moon’s son was playing for Chesapeake and the Panthers were playing at Coal Grove. By coincidence, Wall had just given his ticket taker to go take a bathroom break and moments later Moon walked in.
Moon had an OVC pass that would allow him into the game at no charge even though Moon was not employed by Chesapeake in any capacity. When Moon pulled out his pass, Waller said that Coal Grove didn’t honor those passes. Despite being a little miffed, Moon paid the admission price for him and his wife.
Moments later, the ticket taker returned and Waller left the table and went back to his job.
Man, I loved Dave Waller.
Wall spent 22 years as the athletic director and was named to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Athletic Directors Hall of Fame. He also was the recipient of the OHSAA Naismith Award in 2018 along with Joe Petrocelli. The award was given to two people each year for meritorious service to the sport of basketball and interscholastic athletics.
Waller also served as the boys basketball head coach for seven years and won the OVC championship in 1974, only the second time the Hornets won the OVC in basketball until getting a pair of titles under Gary Salyer in the 1980s.
Wall and his close friend Bill Morgan coached the baseball team for 17 years and Wall started the cross country program in 1977 and coached the sport for 22 years. He also spent four seasons as an assistant football coach.
On top of all that, Wall served three years on the Southeast District Athletic Board.
And Wall used a lot of common sense along with a keen wit to make decisions. He treated his players well, he knew how to motivate them and get the most out of them, and he knew the people of the community.
There was a bunch of guys during that era that seemed to be on the same page and had the same qualities and high standards. Guys like Bill Morgan, Mike Burcham, Bob Lutz, Pat Sheridan, Bob Leith, Dave Lucas, Jack Harris, Phil Davis and Dave Waller were great role models beyond just their playing and coaching talents.
Having the fortune to grow up and play for a few of them and to spend a lot of time around them, watching and learning, makes their lives more personal for me.
And it’s tough to lose a good friend like Dave Waller.
We’ll miss you Mr. Hornet.
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