PARKERSBURG – At 33 years old, Nathan Haynes is still considered a young person.

However, this fact has not held him back from achieving a large amount of success in such a short time span.

The Harrisville native achieved another big success earlier this year when it was announced he would take over July 1 as the new athletic director at Morgantown High School.

“This really is a dream job,” said Haynes. “The high school has just installed a new turf football field, press box, scoreboard and weight room. Not to mention the teams are always in the running to compete for state championships. Our boys basketball team just finished off an undefeated season with a state championship and our girls team just won their third title in a row. The two teams combined have only lost one game the last two seasons. The baseball and football teams, as well, are consistently in the mix for the postseason.”

Haynes’ love of sports began early in life. During his three-year stay at Ritchie County High School, he was named an all-state baseball pitching selection three times. He then moved on to Ohio Valley University and eventually made his way to the low levels of the minor league system. He spent time in the Major League Baseball-sponsored Great Lakes and Southern baseball leagues.

“OVU was the closest school to me when I made my college selection,” said Haynes. “It was a fantastic opportunity for me and allowed me to play baseball while earning a degree.”

The talented hurler graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, which he put to good use after his time in the minors was over.

Haynes spent 10 years in the Wood County school system as a teacher, coach and assistant principal after his return home. He served as a world history teacher at both Blennerhassett (two years) and Parkersburg South (four years) as well as assistant baseball coach for both OVU (one year) and Parkersburg South (three years) before taking over as an assistant principal at the high school.

“Once I took over as assistant principal at South, I had to terminate my duties as assistant coach,” said Haynes. “My job demanded all of my attention and I give 100 percent to anything I commit too. I couldn’t do that as assistant principal unless I surrendered my coaching duties.”

Haynes stayed in his leadership position until last July when a similar position came open at Morgantown High School.

“I found the job posting on the West Virginia Board of Education website,” said Haynes. “And being my confident self, I applied for the job knowing I had what it took. I was one of 20 interviewed, then one of three finalists and finally was offered the job and accepted.

“The Morgantown job was an opportunity I really could not pass up. The school is considered one of the best in the country and has the most Promise Scholarship recipients year after year. A total of 80 percent of the teachers have masters degrees and three instructors have won a national teacher of the year award. I am a man of faith and prayed a lot on the decision and in the end, God decided this was the best place for me to be.”

The newly-minted Mohigan had no idea the current MHS athletic director, Dan Erenrich, was planning on retirement at the time he accepted the position.

“I didn’t find out until shortly after Christmas break,” said Haynes. “I assumed he was planning on staying on a few more years, but after talking to his family, he decided the time was right now.”

The first-year assistant principal will keep his title in addition to his new designation and doesn’t plan on changing much of his approach with the kids at the school.

“I am a very visual and vocal type of person,” said Haynes. “I am around the kids a lot and know them and they know me and feel comfortable talking with me because my age is much closer to them then a lot of their teachers.

“I plan on helping all the kids anyway I can. But I will have a heavier focus on our athletes. My goal is to have every Mohigan athlete graduate and to help any of those who want to play a sport at the collegiate level make it happen.”