West Union Dragons Baseball Names John Shelton Head Coach for 2026

John Shelton has been named head baseball coach of the West Union Dragons, taking over a Southern Hills Athletic Conference program that has cycled through multiple coaches in recent years and is searching for stability heading into 2026.

The hire was welcomed by boosters and parents who had grown weary of coaching turnover, with community voices emphasizing the importance of a consistent presence at the helm. Shelton steps into a program that retains established community support and a core of returning players with varsity experience.

His stated priorities are direct: rebuild fundamentals, reinstate a disciplined offseason training program, and sharpen situational hitting and pitching depth. Those three areas reflect the work of a program that has struggled to find consistent results within the competitive SHAC, a conference that includes North Adams, Peebles, and Lynchburg-Clay, and they signal a coaching philosophy grounded in process rather than quick fixes.

Shelton has also moved to signal his intentions beyond the varsity roster. The Dragons plan to host outreach clinics for younger players in late spring, a move that connects the high school program to the youth baseball organizations that supply its future talent. In Adams County, that connection carries real weight: high school game nights serve as social anchor points for the community, and strong programs at the prep level tend to lift participation numbers in youth baseball throughout the county.

West Union High School, located at 97 Dragon Lair Drive and part of the Adams County Ohio Valley Local School District, competes in the SHAC under Athletic Director Ethan Stricklett. For players coming up through the system, the coaching change brings new systems, new practice expectations, and a coach whose reputation rests on player development. Whether that formula translates into wins in the SHAC standings will begin to show when the 2026 season gets underway.