Gene ‘Geno’ VanOrsdall, a New Washington, Ohio native and legendary high school coach, passed away on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at the age of 87.
According to its obituary page, Gene VanOrsdall died in Stein Hospice Care Center, following a brief illness just a day shy of his 88th birthday.
Gene ‘Geno’ VanOrsdall touched the lives of many with his amazing athletic skills and his decades-long career as a multisports coach and high school teacher.
Born on October 16, 1937, in New Washington, Ohio, to parents George and Ruth VanOrsdall, Gene VanOrsdall began his athletic journey from a very young age, excelling in multiple sports.
Gene attended New Washington High School, where he was a member of the boys’ basketball, baseball, and track teams and won several honorable titles throughout his tenure.
He won the Crawford County League Championship and was named All-Conference while playing for the basketball team. Gene graduated in 1955.
Gene VanOrsdall further continued his athletic career while attending Bluffton College from 1955 to 1959. He was a four-year letter winner in Baseball and a one-year letter winner in Basketball.
During his junior year, Gene was named All-Conference in Baseball.
Gene VanOrsdall Began His Coaching and Teaching Career At Holmes Liberty High School
Although Gene VanOrsdall didn’t pursue his playing career professionally, he continued to impact Ohio’s sports community as a great coach positively.
He joined Holmes Liberty High School in 1959 as a teacher and basketball coach. Gene was voted Coach of the Year in the Mansfield Area for leading his Holmes Liberty High School basketball team to several victories in 1961.
In 1962, his basketball team won the County Sectional District Championships and was the regional runners-up. Gene retired from Holmes Liberty High School in 1963.
Furthermore, from 1963 to 1964, Gene taught biology and served as the head coach of the Junior Varsity Basketball team at Wynford High School, which compiled a 19-1 record.
Gene VanOrsdall spent 34 years of his life serving as a teacher and multi-sports coach at Margaretta High School.
He joined Margaretta High School in 1964 as Varsity Basketball Coach and served in his position until 1972.
During his tenure as basketball coach, Gene led the team to its first-ever league championship in 1965 and is one of just three coaches in Margaretta High School’s history to have won a boys’ basketball league championship.
He further served as assistant principal from 1972 to 1976 and as Athletic Director from 1967 to 1980 at Margaretta High School.
Gene also served as an 8th-grade girls’ basketball coach for 19 seasons, from 1989 to 2008, where he led his team to earn 1st or 2nd place in the SBC.
In addition to being an amazing coach, Gene was an avid golfer and a member of the Castalia Lions Golf League for over 25 years, winning his last golf championship at the age of 83.
After spending 39 years as a coach and educator, Gene VanOrsdall retired from his career in 1998 and continued to work as a farmer for most of his life.
Gene VanOrsdall’s legacy in sports and his contribution to the Ohio community will always be remembered.
He is survived by his only daughter, Beth VanOrsdall Utley, and son-in-law, Kevin Utley, of Oro Valley, Arizona; his sister, Barbara VanOrsdall; and the entire family.
Gene VanOrsdall was preceded in death by his parents and son Steven VanOrsdall.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Visitation will take place on October 17, 2025, at Ransom Funeral & Cremation Services, 610 S. Washington St., Castalia, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM, and from 11:00 AM until the funeral service at 12:00 PM on Saturday, October 18, at Grace Lutheran Church, 203 S. Washington St., Castalia.
- In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Castalia Lions Club and the Margaretta Booster Club.
