Don Reeves steps down as Parkersburg High School’s head football coach
PARKERSBURG — After seven years as the Parkersburg High School head football coach, Don Reeves stepped down Wednesday morning.
“The administration at the board office felt that Parkersburg football was not advancing in the right direction or bringing in enough money to support the other athletic programs,” said Reeves, when asked how the situation surrounding his resignation came about.
Wood County Schools Superintendent John Flint confirmed Reeves had resigned his position and no hearing would be scheduled for Monday. The community had speculated an employee hearing would be held after a flier was circulated saying Reeves was to be terminated. Officials have said the flier did not come from Wood County Schools.
“Don came to my office this morning and submitted his resignation,” Flint said Wednesday. “I then called PHS Principal Kenny DeMoss and let him know, as well as the board members.”
The resignation is effective May 9, and the job vacancy will be posted the next day.
“Donny Reeves is an important part of a very prestigious tradition that is athletics at PHS,” said Flint. “He exemplified excellence as an athlete, being a quarterback on a state championship team. I support and respect his decision.”
Reeves led the Buddy James-coached PHS gridiron squad to a 6-0 win over Corky Griffith’s DuPont High team in the 1978 state championship game.
“He is an excellent individual and teacher and we want to wish him the best,” added Flint.
Bernie Buttrey hired Reeves as offensive coordinator in 2007. With him at the head of the offense, the Big Reds downed St. Albans in the state championship game that year.
Taking over for Buttrey after the 2009 season, Reeves went 35-38 over seven years with the program. The Big Reds finished 4-6 this season.
Parkersburg High qualified for the postseason three times under the leadership of Reeves. However, none of those teams advanced past the first round. The red and white lost to South Charleston 62-7 in 2010, 56-20 against Huntington in 2011, and 45-42 against Cabell Midland in 2014.
Reeves was inducted into the PHS Football Hall of Fame in 2013.