WHEELING — Donnie Murray is coming home.

The current Bishop Donahue athletic director and teacher was named as athletic director at Wheeling Central last week. Longtime Maroon Knights’ athletic director Mike Young has been elevated to a new post at the school — director of Alumni Relations and Special Programs — while continuing on as head football coach.

Murray is not leaving Bishop Donahue, but rather Bishop Donahue is leaving him, as well as an entire community. A bishop’s decision this past winter to close the McMechen-based school at year’s end sent shock waves through the Donahue Nation.

The 1999 Wheeling Central grad had no intentions of leaving Bishop Donahue. He enjoyed the school and excelled at his job. So much so, he was named the OVAC Athletic Director of the Year earlier this month.

But the bishop’s termination decree was a career game-changer for all those employed at Bishop Donahue. When Wheeling Central came calling, Murray embraced the opportunity.

“I am very excited to return back to Wheeling Central. To say it is a little different than when I left back in the spring of 1999 is quite the understatement,” Murray said. “The progression that has occurred in the classrooms is paralleled only to the dynamic changes made in the athletic programs and facilities.

“I am very proud to have been a part of two other hard-working communities in St. John Central and Bishop Donahue where we strived to maximize our potential with minimal capacities,” he added. “Being able to come to Wheeling Central and be integrated into an already thriving athletic program, with many available resources at hand, is very much a dream job. Not to mention, the chance to come home where I feel it all really began for me in the fall of 1995.”

While the new position is one Murray relishes, it also brings with it

some mixed feelings and a hectic transition period.

“At the onset of the announcement, my immediate concern was for the student-athletes. Many of them came from generations of green and gold, whereas some of them made the choice to attend BD for one reason or another. I feel all of them, though, made Donahue a foundation for themselves. It is still very difficult for me to think, that as of right now, all of our students have to find a new place to continue and finish their high school careers,” Murray offered. “In being hired at Wheeling Central, my focus is to ensure these students continue their Catholic education and continue to take pride in being allowed to intertwine that education with their Catholic identities. Currently, there is a foundation making great efforts to keep Bishop Donahue open and operating. There is an imminent decision to be coming soon in regards to the fate of Bishop Donahue moving forward.

“Should the decision not go in the favor of the BD community, I would like for many of these families to come take a look at all of the education and athletic resources that Wheeling Central has to offer so we can begin to integrate those interested student-athletes with their perspective team sports so they can begin to work out with the team, and be fully involved in the WVSSAC-approved out-of-season coaching period, which will be in early and mid-June,” he continued. “For me, my focus will remain on the student-athletes in both communities. I would like to serve as a bridge for the Bishop Donahue students coming over to Wheeling Central while re-integrating myself into the Maroon Knight community. It will be a very emotional and hectic endeavor, but anything I can do for the student-athletes in both communities, I will certainly do my best for each and every one of them.”

Murray will be a full-time athletic director at Central, void of any classroom responsibilities. He, however, will have a full plate to handle with the numerous programs and facilities he will be overseeing.

“Currently, Wheeling Central has 16 athletic programs, including club sports, with many of those teams having junior varsity and in some cases, freshman programs. It will certainly be more than I have been working with the past three years,” Murray said. “We will find ways to continue the full potential of all of the different sports and levels, using the different facilities available to us. For me, everything starts with the organization of each sport and each season, and finding a system that works, implementing the system, and then constantly monitoring and maintaining the system.

“The opportunity to focus on just athletics as I transition into the position should allow me the time to look at what is already present and see what may need changed, implemented, and/or upgraded,” he noted. “Right now, it is very hard to fathom much will need to be changed with the many existing championship caliber programs present at CCHS, but to echo OVAC great Bob Koch, my focus is to leave something better than when I found it.”

The Wheeling Central athletic department has operated in championship fashion under Young’s watch. So when things aren’t broken, you don’t try to fix them. But with any new administrator, they do bring with them their own game plan. Murray is no different.

“I know a big concern for the parents and supporters of the teams and student-athletes, is to be constantly updated of any and all changes that take place. I would like to implement the concept of technological updates for all of the sports to keep those supporters aware and up to date with any and all time, place, facility, and opponent changes as they happen,” Murray said. “In a world where many of the families consist of two working parents, they need the information on the go and I would like to make sure I provide them with that information as it becomes available to me.

“I am sure many other ideas will come to mind as I become more involved. I already have Coach Young’s support and blessing to do just that. Working with him, we will see where each program is at, and ultimately, how we can get each program to where we want it to be…holding a state championship trophy in Wheeling, Charleston, Parkersburg, Morgantown, and/or Vienna at the end of every season,” he added. “It seems ambitious, I know, but I learned during my time as a student-athlete at Wheeling Central, that nothing is impossible if you are willing to work for it.”

Murray is understandably excited about his new task, as well he should. But he heads to the East Wheeling school with also deep and likely long-lasting affection for Bishop Donahue.

“To the community members of Bishop Donahue, I cannot thank you enough for the support you have given me over the past four years. As I will always be a son of St. John Central, I will also be a son of Bishop Donahue. I am, and always have been, here for all of my students and will continue to be. I only hope I have the chance to continue to work with many of the families at Wheeling Central, so we can finish what we started with each and every child when they entered those McMechen doors at the onset of their freshmen year,” Murray said. “I am very excited to be going to Wheeling Central and am very exciting for the upcoming experience. I would like to be able to share it with as many Donahue students wanting to continue their Catholic education.”

BUBBA’S BITS

ONE OF the premier boys’ prep basketball coaches in the OVAC has called it quits. Fred King, who did a masterful job of guiding Paden City for many years, has announced his retirement from coaching. He will stay on as the Wildcats’ athletic director.

THE HONORS continue to roll in for Wheeling Park shooting star Josie Daugherty. The all-state hoopster and Fairmont State recruit has been selected to play in the West Virginia North-South Basketball All-Star Classic. It will be staged June 5 at Glenville State.

THE DIVISION I scholarship offers continue to mount for Cross Wilkinson. The Wheeling Park quarterbacking standout recently received offers from

Columbia, Georgia State and Ball State. He also has offers from Toledo, Marshall and Ohio University. Iowa State and Indiana officials plan visits to Wheeling soon to work out the 6-2, 210-pounder. Wilkinson will take part in the Under Armor All-American Camp in Baltimore in June.

WARWOOD’S KAREN John said her first Boston Marathon Monday was “an awesome experience.” She finished the race in good physical condition with a 3:56.24 clocking.

THE 25th Annual Martins Ferry Soap Box Derby is in dire need of entrants. So far, only 10 drivers have signed up for the June 11 event. Interested drivers should call the chamber office at 740-633-2565.

THE OHIO Valley Football Coaches Association is hosting high school coaches and college coaches for its Spring Recruiting Night this Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Generations in Wheeling. All coaches are reminded to bring stats and names of you incoming seniors and juniors. Cost for college coaches is $30 while high school coaches are charged $10. For more information, call Mike Young 304-312-9125 or Reno Saccoccia 740-632-9952.

CHRIS PACK didn’t have the greatest of records as head boys’ basketball coach at Barnesville High. He did, however, handle himself with much class during his tenure. He is a credit to the school district. We wish him well since he has opted to resign his coaching post and now assist with the girls’ program.

KUDOS TO the Bethany College baseball team as it is hosting the School of Bright Promise staff and students as special guests for Monday’s game against Muskingum College. More than 80 special needs students and Bright Promise staff members will be in attendance. They will also be treated to a picnic with Bison players. Game time is 2 p.m.