Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
Known as the "Bascom Bomber" during his playing days at Heidelberg, Duane Warns was one of the most prolific basketball players in Heidelberg history.
After earning 11 varsity letters at Hopewell-Loudon High School, Warns entered Heidelberg College as a freshman in the fall of 1957. As a freshman Warns failed to letter in basketball but did earn his first of four track letters and participated in the Ohio Athletic Conference Track and Field meet.
The 1958-59 basketball season saw Warns earn his first of three basketball letters. As a junior Warns was selected as a co-captain and earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors, averaging 20.6 points per game, including a high of 37 in one game.
Warns was again selected as captain of the team during the 1960-61 season, his senior year. The Student Princes finished 8-13 overall, 5-9 in the Ohio Conference, that season. Warns averaged 17.8 points per game and was again named All-Ohio Athletic Conference.
Upon graduation Warns was the holder of four Heidelberg basketball records. His record of 21 field goals, in a 45-point performance versus Bluffton - a record itself at the time - still stands today.
During his four-years as a track participant Warns competed in the high jump, long jump, high hurdles and low hurdles. Following his outstanding senior basketball and track seasons,
Warns was presented the Sayger Award as the senior male athlete "most likely to succeed." The Sayger award was not the only honor Warns received that year however. He was also the recipient of the Williams Award as the outstanding student teacher in secondary education.
After graduating from Heidelberg in 1961, Warns went on to Bowling Green State University where he received his master's degree in education in 1963. During this time he was also the head basketball coach at Hopewell-Loudon High School.
Warns has served as head basketball coach (1964-74), athletic director (1974-78) and assistant principal (1978-80) at Bellevue High School. Since 1980 he has been that school's principal.
Duane is married to his college sweetheart, the former Nancy Ackerman (Heidelberg, 1964).
(This profile appeared in the 1988 Hall of Fame Banquet program.)
