dominionpost
MORGANTOWN There have only been a handful of people to hold the position of athletic director for University High School.
When Aaron Whitford saw the job posting for the role, he knew it was one that he couldnt pass up throwing his name in the hat for.
After the retirement of 31-year UHS AD Jeff Bailey at the end of the 2025-2026 school year, the position opened, and the search began for the seventh athletic director in the history of the school to make their way to Bakers Ridge.
That was a big factor in making the best decision for myself and my family, said Whitford, who was hired as the new UHS AD in June.
My wife was the one to really point out the fact that when any job doesnt become available very often, its probably a special one.
It helped us make the jump.
We knew if it was something we wanted to do, now was the time.
There were multiple factors that appealed to the Hedgesville High School alum.
I left athletics a few years ago, and its something Ive simply just missed being directly involved with, Whitford said.
Looking at the school itself, theres so much history within the athletic programs there; the academics are also wonderful.
Everyone Ive been able to meet and work with so far has been great.
Principal Green and the staff here have welcomed my family and me with open arms.
UHS is currently raising funds for a multimillion-dollar athletic complex that will be built on campus and will include baseball and softball fields, along with tennis courts.
After graduating high school, Whitford played baseball at Garrett College before spending a few seasons at Fairmont State.
I went back to Hedgesville after college and was teaching and started coaching boys and girls middle school basketball, he said.
I was also an assistant volleyball coach for a while and then an assistant and head baseball coach for a few years.
I was also the athletic director for three years.
Whitfords wife, Alison Whitford, is the former head volleyball coach at Hedgesville, which captured the 2024 state championship with a win over UHS crosstown rival Morgantown.
While some may feel pressure entering a position with the history of being AD at University, bu for Whitford, its excitement.
I wouldnt describe it as pressure or anxiety or anything negative, he said.
I know that this is a place that gives me the opportunity to come and settle in and do the best job possible.
University High School is on the right track and has been for a long time because of the work Jeff Bailey did and the entire community involved in the school.
My job is to simply come in and make sure the ship keeps moving in the right direction, doing things the right way, and making sure that we are meeting expectations and living up to the standard that has been set here by the ones before me.
My job isnt to come in and change anything wholesale from the jump, he continued.
Im going to start by listening, observing, learning, and we are going to keep things rolling.
We are a couple of weeks away from fall sports getting started, and we will roll out with how things have been for the last 31 years.
Over time, we will evaluate things, and all work together to improve or adjust whatever it is we need, but for the most part, I think keeping things moving the way they are is a great thing, because theres no doubt things have been going in a positive direction here.