Bettye Jo Hansbarger

Bettye Jo Hansbarger stands among the pioneering advocates who championed the creation of organized girls' basketball in northwest Ohio during a transformative era for women's athletics. Her tireless efforts contributed to establishing girls' basketball programs at Swanton, Lima, and Stryker High Schools while supporting the critical Title IX-era changes that reshaped Ohio high school athletics.

Hansbarger's remarkable 32-year coaching career produced an outstanding 305-111 record and launched 54 players into collegiate basketball. Beginning at Lima Perry Junior High School (1962-63), where she posted a 7-1 record as girls' basketball coach while teaching health and physical education, she continued at Stryker Schools (1965-69), where she compiled an impressive 28-2 record.

Her greatest impact came at Swanton Schools (1972-94), where she taught health and physical education and coached girls' basketball from 1973-94, compiling a 260-103 record. Under her leadership, Swanton captured six league championships (1981-83, 85, 89, 91), ten sectional titles (1978-83, 85, 88, 89, 91), and six district championships (1981-83, 88-89, 91). She guided the Bulldogs to one regional championship and a state semi-finalist appearance in 1989.

Hansbarger's contributions to basketball excellence earned her induction into the Ohio Northern University Hall of Fame in 1991. Her legacy extends beyond wins and championships—she opened doors for generations of young women athletes and demonstrated that girls deserved equal opportunities to compete and excel in basketball.