The Williamsville Community Unit School District #15 Athletic Department along with Williamsville High School is excited to announce Tasha Shade as the sixth head coach in the thirty-five-year history of the Bullets Girls Basketball Program. Coach Shade takes over for BJ Halford, who resigned after twelve years at the helm at the end of the 23-24 season.

“I am very excited to learn that Tasha Shade will be taking over the Lady Bullets Basketball program.  Coach Shade has been a great asset to our basketball and softball programs in the past, and I have a lot of confidence that the basketball program has a bright future with her in charge.  I have always admired her competitive spirit and discipline, which will be a great asset to the program. Coach Shade’s athletes will no doubt enjoy the success that will come with it.  I look forward to following their success, and wish Coach Shade and the Lady Bullets the best of luck.”  – BJ Halford

Coach Shade brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with her as the new head coach for the girls’ basketball program. She has been member of the coaching staff at WCUSD #15 since 2016, coaching junior high softball, junior high girls’ basketball, high school softball, and high school girls’ basketball.

Besides her coaching experience within WCUSD #15, Coach Shade also gained experience as an assistant while teaching at Macomb for five seasons from 2011 until 2016 under Jeff Thorman and Zach Keene. She was also a multiple sport athlete at Pleasant Plains playing volleyball, basketball, and softball all four years of high school playing under legendary coaches Cheryl Ballinger, Dave Greer, Paul Kastner, and T.J. Fraase.

Most recently Coach Shade was part of the junior high girls’ basketball staff that saw the seventh-grade team finish in second place in class 3A during the 2023 season. Coach Shade was also a member of Coach Halford’s staff the last time the girls’ basketball program won the Sangamo Conference title, during the 16-17 season.

“I am extremely grateful to be given this opportunity. I have enjoyed playing, watching and coaching for years. I have had an incredible mentor in the sport of basketball, my dad who coached at the college level and at Pleasant Plains. I have also worked with some great coaches during my career. These coaches have helped me develop my style and approach to coaching. I temporarily stepped away from basketball five years ago to start a family, and I missed it more than I had expected. I believe the break was very beneficial and I feel like I have a new perspective and excitement for the game. I am eager to bring my enthusiasm and dedication to the Williamsville Girls Basketball program. “ – Tasha Shade

We are extremely excited for Coach Shade to continue the success that Coach Halford and the previous coaches within the program have helped to establish. The Tradition of Excellence that is Bullets Basketball will continue across the area and throughout Illinois for many years to come.

BJ Halford has been a member of the Williamsville School District Athletic Department for the past sixteen years as both an assistant and head coach. Since becoming an assistant boys basketball coach during the 2008-2009 school year, he has been an active coach that has impacted the lives of hundreds of student athletes.

After assisting both Coach Eric Buerkett (08-09) and Coach Bryon Graven (09-12) for four seasons and helping guide the Bullets Boys’ Basketball Program to a regional title in 2012, Coach Halford took over the Bullets Girls’ Basketball Program in the 2012-2013 school year and became the fifth head coach in program history. His first career win as head coach came in a 54-14 win over Decatur Lutheran. This would be the first of many wins, as he would amass an overall record of 187-148 over twelve seasons.

During his tenure, Coach Halford continued the Tradition of Excellence that is Bullet Athletics and helped guide his teams to three Sangamo Conference Titles and three Sangamon County Championships. He also ends his tenure as the second winningest coach in program history.

Most people will remember all the accomplishments that Coach Halford achieved during his career as a coach for the Williamsville School District. More notably though, was the number of lives that he impacted over the last sixteen years, as both a teacher and a coach.

Coach Halford has left an indelible mark on Bullet Athletics during his time as a coach for the Bullets, and from the bottom of our hearts, we all thank you.

The Bullets Girls Basketball team saw two players earn Sangamo All-Conference honors for the 2023-2024 Winter season. Char Gleason earned second team honors, and Namoi Roberts earned honorable mention.

Williamsville High School is excited to be hosting the regional quarterfinal game for the 2024 2A IHSA Girls Basketball Postseason against the South County Vipers. The game will take place on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 1:00 pm at Dave Root Court on the campus of Williamsville High School. Admission to the game is $5.00. All seating at Dave Root Court is general admission and will be available on a first come first serve basis when doors open at 12:15 pm on Saturday.

If you can’t make it to the game, you will be able to watch it live on Bullets TV on the NFHS Network. If you don’t already have a subscription, you will be able to purchase one by going to www.whsbulletstv.com so you won’t miss a moment of the action during the IHSA Postseason.

In conjunction with the WHS Student Council, the WCUSD #15 Athletic Department will be offering free admission to all WHS students to the high school girls basketball on Thursday, February 8, 2024 vs Illini Central.

In order to gain free admission, students will need to show their 23-24 WHS Student ID.

We are excited to welcome the WCUSD #15 community as well as the communities of Forsyth and Maroa to Williamsville High School on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, for our weekly community recreation night, and the rescheduled girls’ basketball game from January 22, 2024.

To make everyone’s visit to Williamsville High School as enjoyable as possible, we have created some maps that will help get you to the correct location. Please see the pictures below to help guide you once you arrive at Williamsville High School for either event. We are excited to welcome you into our facilities and look forward to continuing to partner with the community in all the new opportunities that these facility enhancements will provide.

In conjunction with the WHS Student Council, the WCUSD #15 Athletic Department will be offering free admission to all WHS students to the high school girls basketball on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 vs Beardstown.

In order to gain free admission, students will need to show their 23-24 WHS Student ID.

As part of the Red Kettle Shootout, the Williamsville High School Girls Basketball Team is competing against other schools with a virtual Red Kettle. The school with the highest amount raised will win the Red Kettle award. Please consider donating today at the following link:

Bullets Girls Basketball Team Virtual Red Kettle

The Williamsville High School Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball programs are excited to announce the first annual Sunday Shootouts at the WHS Field House. The shootouts will take place on the following Sundays this Fall and Winter:

• November 5
• December 3
• December 17
• January 7
• January 21.

The shootouts are open to both boys’ and girls’ teams in third through fifth grade. You register to participate in all five weekends, or just one. To Ensure you sport is reserved, register at the following link today:

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3rej2Jx

If you have any additional questions, please contact either Head Coach Nick Beard (beard@wcusd15.org) or Head Coach BJ Halford (halford@wcusd15.org).

The Williamsville High School Girls’ Basketball program has a variety of open gyms that are taking place throughout the 2023 Summer contact days. You can access the schedule at the following link:

2023 High School Girls Basketball Summer Schedule

If you would like more information on the contact days over the Summer, or how you can get involved with the Bullets Boys’ Basketball program, contact Head Coach BJ Halford at halford@wcusd15.org.