West Virginia high school football is undergoing some significant changes this offseason as several teams across the state welcome new head coaches. These coaching changes promise to inject fresh energy, diverse experiences, and renewed enthusiasm into their respective programs. One person that needs credit for keeping up with all the changes is Craig Dutton. He does a fantastic job on keeping track and looking through board minutes. His work is a great resource to high school football in West Virginia in which was instrumental in putting this article together.
Let’s take a closer look at the notable head coaching changes that have taken place:
- Calhoun County: Jeff Goodrich, a former member of Calhoun County’s last playoff teams and an All-State Honors recipient, has been named the new head coach. With his deep understanding of the program, Goodrich aims to lead the team back to their winning ways.
- Madonna: Ted Arneault Jr., a familiar name around the state, has taken the reins at Weirton Madonna. Arneault led Oak Glen to two Class AA semifinals in 2019 and 2020, bringing a wealth of experience to the program.
- Mingo Central: David Jones, a renowned name in Kentucky, now leads the Mingo Central program. A native of the area, Jones aims to bring excitement back to Mingo County.
- Princeton Tigers: Keith Taylor, a former standout defensive lineman at Princeton and Emory & Henry, has taken over as the head coach. Having been an assistant on staff, Taylor is well-prepared to guide the team to success.
- River View: Gary Roach, former Richwood head coach, is now in charge of the River View program. Coming from an assistant role at Wyoming East, Roach looks to make a positive impact with his experience and dedication.
- St. Joseph’s Central: Adam Hill, with coaching experience in the NFL, XFL, college, and high school, has been named the first head coach in St. Joseph’s Central Fighting Irish history. The team is eager to begin their football journey under Hill’s guidance.
- Wyoming East: Steven Cook, a former player on the 2014 State Playoff team and an AA First Team All-State Offensive Lineman, takes over as the new head coach for the Warriors. Cook’s familiarity with the program and his passion for the game make him an ideal leader.
- Berkeley Springs: Wes Eddy assumes the head coaching position, bringing his experience as a head coach at multiple high schools around the state.
- Chapmanville: Zach Belcher, an alumnus, has taken over as the head coach, bringing his knowledge and love for the school to the program.
- Gilmer County: Ben Hall is the new head coach, succeeding Thomas Cogar and looking to make his mark on the program.
- Greenbrier West: Following Toby Harris’s resignation, the head coaching position is currently vacant. Harris, the first head coach in school history, led the Cavaliers to a successful run in recent years.
- Martinsburg: Dave Walker, the all-time leader in wins in West Virginia, has returned as the head coach. Walker returns to Martinsburg after spending 4 years at Concord University.
- Oak Hill: Davon Marion, the former defensive coordinator at Princeton and a native of Mount Hope, takes over as the head coach, bringing his past success and knowledge to the program.
- Pocahontas County: Doug Burns has handed over the reins to Bradley Carpenter, who looks to continue the program’s development.
- Ritchie County: Rick Haught has been succeeded by Jared Shipe, who aims to lead the team to new accomplishments.
- Robert C. Byrd: After Josh Gorrell’s departure, the head coaching position is currently vacant.
- Sissonville: Chad Lovejoy has been replaced by Jeremy Hairston, who hopes to guide the team to success.
- South Charleston: Carl Lee has passed the baton to Dustin Resler, a former college player who is ready to take on the challenge of leading the Black Eagles.
- Trinity: Jason White now leads the team after Chris Simpson and Mike McKenzie held the interim positions.
- Tyler Consolidated: Kyle Ritz, a Magnolia High School alum with multiple state championships in various sports, takes over as the head coach, focused on rebuilding the program.
- Washington: Terry Rea leaves Berkeley Springs to become the new leader at Washington High School, bringing his experience and coaching expertise to the team.
These head coaching changes represent an exciting time for West Virginia high school football, as new leaders step in with fresh perspectives, diverse backgrounds, and a shared goal of taking their respective programs to new heights. With their expertise and passion for the game, these coaches are ready to make a lasting impact and create a bright future for their teams.
Coaching Carousel
Outgoing Coach > School > Incoming Coach
- Terry Rea > Berkeley Springs > Wes Eddy
- John Persinger & Mike Stump (Interim) > Calhoun County > Jeff Goodrich
- James Barker > Chapmanville > Zach Belcher
- Thomas Cogar > Gilmer County > Ben Hall
- Toby Harris > Greenbrier West > Vacant
- Mauro Monz > Madonna > Ted Arneault, Jr.
- Dave Chapman > Magnolia > Craig Mason
- Britt Sherman > Martinsburg > Dave Walker
- Chase Moore > Mingo Central > David Jones
- Dave Moneypenny > Oak Hill > Davon Marion
- Larry Thompson > Parkersburg Catholic > Keith McFee
- Doug Burns > Pocahontas County > Bradley Carpenter
- Chris Pedigo > Princeton > Keith Taylor
- Rick Haught > Ritchie County > Jared Shipe
- George Kennedy & Jordan Prater (Interim) > River View > Gary Roach
- Josh Gorrell > Robert C. Byrd > Vacant
- Chad Lovejoy > Sissonville > Jeremy Hairston
- Carl Lee > South Charleston > Dustin Resler
- N/A > St. Joseph’s Central > Adam Hill
- Chris Simpson & Mike McKenzie (Interim) > Trinity > Jason White
- Ryan Walton > Tyler Consolidated > Kyle Ritz
- Glen Simpson > Washington > Terry Rea
- Jimmy Adkins > Wyoming East > Steven Cook