HURRICANE -- The Hurricane Redskins are under new leadership heading into the 2025 season, as Dustin Hatfield takes the reins.
Hatfield takes over for Donnie Mays, who coached Hurricane for three seasons from 2022-24.
Mays went back to South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä to become the new leader of the Black Eagles. Mays previously coached at SC from 2013-21.
Hatfield was in line to coach Huntington St. Joe last season, but the Irish have not yet been able to get the program off the ground.
Hatfield was previously an assistant at Hurricane under Jeremy Taylor.
The 2024 Redskins put together a 9-4 season and reached the Class AAAA state semifinal round before falling to Spring Mills, 49-7.
Hurricane last year sported a senior-heavy roster that saw a lot of productivity, including quarterback Noah Vellaithambi and wideout Sha'lik Hampton, both now departed.
Hatfield knows that there is a tall task at hand as a first-year coach with a young roster and inexperienced varsity players.
"Donnie Mays did a really good job over the last three years by taking them to another height," Hatfield said. "We're looking to continue to build on that. We're a young team. [We] only got about three kids that started last year. There's a lot of question marks still. We're looking to see who's gonna be the leaders of the locker room.
"We're starting to see a glimpse of that. Who can we count on? Who can we trust? There's a lot of ability here, but we're a young team."
Hatfield, despite being having a young roster, remains open-minded about Hurricane's future, praising its coachable young players.
"This is probably the nicest group of young men that I've been around," Hatfield said. "It's been a pleasure to deal with and make coaching pretty easy. They're just a great group. They're battling every day, and I've had really good numbers in the weight room."
Building relationships as a first-year coach can take time.
But, Hatfield has been pleased with the feedback he's gotten from his players.
"Jeremy Taylor taught me a lot," Hatfield said. "I really love the community. [I've] coached youth ball here for years, and that group of kids came up here and ended up being the best team that Hurricane's ever put together.
"So, being able to come back to this community that I've called home myself for many years, it's a dream opportunity for me. I look forward to leading the Redskins."
Vellaithambi was among the top passers in West Virginia last season, as he went 178 of 295 (60%) through the air for 3,013 yards and 36 touchdowns.
The former Hurricane quarterback left behind big shoes to fill as Hatfield looks for a signal-caller.
Hatfield and his staff saw three quarterbacks originally battling for the starting position.
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However, the first-year coach sees Isaiah Kutscher as the guy moving forward.
"He's our clear No. 1," Hatfield said. "He's very inexperienced, but, man, ton of upside.
"He is a competitor. He is a wrestler-type kid. He wants it every day. He is coachable. He's a team guy. He can spin it. [His] future looks really, really good for him."
Hurricane featured two strong running backs in 2024 with Kylan Grace and AJ Gregory, as the two combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
But, Grace transferred out of Hurricane and is now competing for Ironton (Ohio).
Gregory stayed put in Putnam County at Hurricane and will be looked at as the top option.
Gregory finished last season with 82 carries for 624 yards (7.6 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns.
He rushed for more than 100 yards in two games last season.
"AJ Gregory is one of the best backs in the state, in my opinion," Hatfield said. "He's a senior. He's proven. He's a big, physical and fast back that could take it all the way., We're looking for depth behind him. Zach Turner [is] a smaller guy, twitchy, but really good home-run speed."
Hatfield identified the offensive line, with a mention for "all position groups" exciting him this season.
"We're young, but we're really big and athletic," Hatfield said. "I'm curious to see what those guys can do in the trenches."
Hatfield feels Hurricane's wideouts will catch observers' attention.
"The receiving corps, I think, are probably an underrated group," Hatfield said. "We're looking at maybe playing six to eight guys that I can trust. I've got a lot of confidence there."
Hurricane will continue building depth throughout the season, Hatfield said, especially with a young roster.
"Depth is a critical piece, especially with our schedule," Hatfield said. "You play AAAA and MSAC, it's a challenge every week. You gotta bring your A-game, and injuries are part of the game. So, having depth in behind them, it's very important right now.
"Our depth is pretty solid. But, we're just looking to see who's that next guy in line that we can trust and count on in a game day."
Hurricane will open its season on the road on Friday at George Rogers Clark (Kentucky).
The Redskins roster also features six teams that made the state playoffs last season, including a trip to the Eastern Panhandle to meet the Martinsburg Bulldogs on Nov. 7.
