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Durdines sets staff for OVAC Game

MARTINS FERRY — John Durdines isn’t sure what his coaching future holds.

The long-time Bishop Donahue head coach has explored a few things, but isn’t ready to formally commit to anything … just yet, anyway.

However, one game he knows he has upcoming for certain is the OVAC Rudy Mumley OVAC All-Star Game in which he will guide West Virginia against Ohio during the July 22nd contest, which is slated for the Dave Bruney Football Complex in Martins Ferry.

With one more guaranteed game, Durdines is also excited to share the time with his assistant coaches, many of whom have been working with him for several years.

“It’s great to share it with these coaches,” Durdines said. “This is an important game to the people of the Ohio Valley and it’s especially important to us this year since it’s the last time we’ll be working together. We’re going to cherish every moment and hopefully we can pull out a victory.”

Here’s a capsule look at the West Virginia coaches:

JOHN DURDINES, Bishop Donahue — This veteran coach spent the last 15 seasons as the head coach for the Bishops and was on the coaching staff for two years prior.

Durdines guided the Bishops to three OVAC Class 1A championships. He was named the Mason-Dixon Conference coach of the year five times and twice received the Big 22 Class A Coach of the Year. He was also named the Intelligencer/News Register Coach of the Year after the 2014 season.

All told, he finished his career with a 90-68 record.

Along with football, Durdines spent two years coaching baseball and six seasons coaching wrestling.

John and his wife, Michelle have two daughters, Anatasia Klemm and Ashley Durdines.

L.A. HAMPTON, Bishop Donahue — This former Bishops’ standout has been coaching football for four seasons, including the 2016 campaign with the Bishops.

Prior to joining Durdines, he was on the staff at Linsly.

Hampton, who is a B.D. and West Liberty graduate, also has coaching experience in basketball and track.

CURT MELE, Bishop Donahue — This long-time Bishop worked with the Donahue football program for each of the last five years. All told, he has 10 years of experience at his alma mater.

Along with serving on the football staff, Mele also served as the Bishops’ softball coach and was an assistant boys basketball coach.

A graduate of Wheeling Jesuit and West Virginia Northern, Mele and his wife, Dana, have three daughters, Ashley, Alexis and Abbey.

ZACHARY KLEMM, Bishop Donahue — This former Linsly School standout spent two years working with Durdines and the Bishops.

Klemm, who graduated from Linsly in 2010 and West Liberty in 2014, has four years of total experience in football coaching. He also has coaching experience in wrestling.

Zach, who is married to Coach Durdines’ daughter, Anastasia, played football, golf, hockey and swimming.

HOWARD STAMP, Bishop Donahue — This veteran assistant coach has been on the Bishops’ coaching staff since Durdines took over the reins of the program.

Stamp was part of all three OVAC championship and four Mason-Dixon title winning coaching staffs.

A graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and West Liberty, Stamp played football and baseball.

Howard and his wife, Pam, have four children, Tim, Todd, Katie and Emily.

MICHAEL ANGALICH, Bishop Donahue — A former Bishops’ athletic standout, Angalich has been in the coaching ranks for the past five years at his alma mater.

Angalich graduated from Donahue in 2008 after an all-state, all-OVAC and all-Valley senior season. He’s served on the coaching staff that’s won two OVAC titles.

After graduating from West Virginia Wesleyan, Angalich earned his graduate degree from Wheeling Jesuit in 2014.

Michael and his wife, Mia, do not have any children.

JAMES SMITH, Bishop Donahue — Another one of Durdines’ loyal assistants spent 12 years working with the Bishops’ program.

Smith, who graduated from Wheeling Park in 1986, has never coached football anywhere other than the McMechan-based school.

Smith, who has a son James, is engaged to Shirley Hevener.

ERIC JAMES, Cameron — This long-time football coach worked for four years with the Bishops and has been a part of the Cameron Dragons’ staff for the bulk of his 20 years of coaching.

James also serves as the baseball coach at Cameron. He’s also coached boys and girls basketball as well as wrestling for the Dragons. He’s also coached junior high football at Sherrard.

James, who played arena football, has coached in the West Virginia playoffs foru times and owns more than 200 career baseball wins as well as eight sectional titles.

The owner of a degree from West Virginia University and a masters from Northcentral University, James and his wife Kathy have three children, Jensen, Lander, Avery. James has also three stepchildren, Jordyn, Ryan and Morgan.

BOB KRAMER, Madonna — This veteran mentor helped turn the Blue Dons’ program around after it had reached the brink of extinction.

Kramer, who owns 37 years of coaching experience, guided the Blue Dons to the 2009 state championship and a pair of runnerup finishes in 2004 and 2008. He was named OVAC Coach of the Year in 2010 and was also named the Dapper Dan Man of the Year. He was named Mason-Dixon Coach of the Year five times.

Kramer, who is a graduate of Steubenville High School and Jefferson Community College, spent five years working as an assistant coach before taking over the head-coaching duties.

Bob and his wife, Kathy, have two children, Bob Jr. and Linda. The couple also has two granddaughters, Taylor and Kaitlin.

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