Zach Kepple

KARNS CITY — Staying home has suited Zach Kepple just fine.

The 2011 Karns City graduate — who played four sports for the Gremlins during his high school career — was recently named KC's new varsity head boys basketball coach. He succeeds Chris Bellis, who resigned that post in June after 12 seasons.

The Gremlins were 23-3, winning their third District 9 title under Bellis, in 2021. Karns City also won the district in 2017 and 2018 under his guidance. Kepple was the junior varsity coach and varsity assistant under Bellis the past three years. He was one of two applicants for the job once Bellis resigned.

Kepple played on KC basketball teams under Bellis.

“I'm hoping to pick up right where Chris left off,” Kepple said. “He did a great job here and he's leaving the program in good shape.”

While the Gremlins graduated all-time scoring leader Chase Beighley and top rebounder and consistent double-digit scorer Nathan Waltman this spring, key players such as Micah Rupp, Luke Garing and Luke Cramer return. Rupp and Cramer have been District 9 Rookies of the Year.

“We still have plenty of talent here,” Kepple said. “My goal is to have everybody mesh right away and we hit the ground running next season.

“I've played for and coached with some excellent coaches here. My coaching philosophy is bits of all of them. Growing up in Karns City, I've had the benefit of being around them all as a player and as a coach.”

Kepple played football, basketball, baseball and did track at KC. He attended Grove City College and graduated from there in 2015, playing football and competing in throws for the Wolverines' track and field team.

He has been a middle school teacher at Karns City for six years, joining the district staff shortly after graduating college. He's been a varsity assistant coach in football and track for the past six years as well.

“Even though this is Zach's first head coaching job, he has a lot of experience in coaching,” Karns City athletic director Josh Williams said. “I think he will step right in and keep the program rolling. He did an excellent job during the interview process. He is clearly the man for the job.”

Bellis coached the KC girls basketball team for eight years — five as head coach — before resigning in 2005. He became the Gremlins' boys coach in 2010.

“I needed to take a break in 2005 and I feel like I need a break now,” Bellis said. “When I left the girls program, I still coached some junior high and elementary teams … I'm sure I'll stay involved with the game in different ways now as well.

“Zach will do an excellent job. He is offensive coordinator in football, so he's a strategist. And he works hard to learn the game. He's improved as a coach every year.”

Bellis added that he is happy to be leaving at a time “when the cupboard isn't bare. The girls won three straight district championships after I left. That cupboard wasn't bare and this one isn't bare, either.”

Kepple admitted to an “awkward transition” when he first became an assistant coach to the man who once coached him.

“It took me a while to go from calling him Mr. Bellis to Chris,” he said. “But I've been his coach for three years and that awkward phase is long gone.

“I'm just grateful to be able to return home and coach at the school I loved growing up in. I feel privileged to be able to give back to the school district that's given so much to me.”