WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Another familiar face is joining the Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) Grizzly Basketball coaching staff.
Dr. Walt Belcher, former coach of the Mtn. View-Birch Tree Liberty High School boys basketball team, will join Grizzly Basketball Head Coach Jared Phay and Assistant Coach Braxton Williams on the bench this season.
Belcher comes to the Grizzlies after spending the past six seasons as assistant coach to Charlie Wilson at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce, Florida. During his tenure, the Pioneers made their first two trips to the NJCAA Division I Men’s National Basketball Championship Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight during the 2020-2021 season.
“When I heard that Coach Belcher was moving back permanently to his Mtn. View home, I had to reach out to him, and I was thrilled that we were able to lure him to join our staff,” Phay said. “What they did at Indian River is very impressive. Coach Belcher is well liked and respected in our community and nationally as a coach.”
Belcher is excited to return to south-central Missouri and to work with the Grizzly Basketball program. “I appreciate Coach Phay allowing me to be a part of his staff. Missouri State University-West Plains has a great tradition in basketball, and I am honored to be working with high quality coaches,” Belcher said.
Belcher’s resumé includes more than 20 years of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels. He spent 14 years coaching at three different high schools in Missouri, including four years at Mtn. View. His high school teams competed in nine district championships, claimed six district titles and won four conference titles. Each school also was named in their respective state classification polls during his tenure.
At the collegiate level, Belcher spent two seasons as the head assistant coach at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. His responsibilities included serving as the recruiting coordinator and as head coach of the junior varsity team. During Belcher’s tenure at CMU, the Eagles were nationally ranked and graduated three all-Americans.
In addition to coaching, Belcher spent 12 years as principal at Mtn. View-Birch Tree Liberty High School.
A Missouri native, Belcher earned all-state basketball honors at Slater High School. Following graduation, he attended Missouri Valley College in Marshall where he was a two-year starter for the Vikings basketball team.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from Missouri Valley, his master’s and specialist’s degrees in school administration from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, and his doctorate degree in educational leadership from Lindenwood University in Jefferson City, Missouri.
He and his wife, Sarah, have been married for 33 years.
For more information about the Grizzly Basketball program, visit MSUWPGrizzlies.com or call 417-255-7991.
