Walnut Hills promotes JV coach, former player Stuart Holt to head basketball coach

Walnut Hills High School has named Stuart Holt its new head boys basketball coach and program director.

Walnut Hills is in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference and finished 23-3 last year.

Holt has been on the boys basketball staff since 2013, with experience as both assistant and head coach on all levels from grade 7 through junior varsity, most recently serving as the program’s JV head coach since 2020.

He replaces Ricardo Hill who moved on to take over the boys basketball program at Indian Hill High School.

More: Indian Hill hires Ricardo Hill away from Walnut Hills as head basketball coach

A 2013 Walnut Hills High School graduate, Holt played basketball for his six-year tenure and was a member of the 2013 team that made a state final four appearance – the first appearance in school history.

After graduating, Holt returned to the program as a coach under Hill’s tutelage.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to continue being a part of the tradition of excellence at the school that shaped me into the person I am today,” Holt said. “We are going to create a culture of excellence that challenges, supports, and empowers our student-athletes to become servant leaders in the community, extraordinary students, and exceptional athletes.”

Shauniece Steele, athletic director at Walnut Hills High School, said they're excited to watch him step into his new role.

“Stu has shown over the years that it’s more than just basketball, and that he deeply cares about the kids and their goals – both on and off of the court," she said. "It’s been an amazing journey watching him move through the ranks, coaching, connecting and building relationships and truly creating a sense of family and pride in being a Walnut Hills student-athlete.”

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Walnut Hills names Stuart Holt new boys basketball coach