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.