It’s all but official, but it appears the next Bridgeport High School girls’ basketball coach will be one very familiar with the program. Harrison County Board of Education President David Sturm confirmed that current Assistant Coach Paul Ayers is listed on the agenda as the recommended choice to head up the program.

 

The recommendation is part of the agenda for tomorrow’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Harrison County Board of Education. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. at the BOE office on E.B. Saunders Way in Clarksburg.

 

Sturm said the recommendation comes from the BHS administration. He said the procedure tomorrow is fairly standard.

 

“(The elected board) gets the recommendation from the school through our superintendent who forwards it to us,” said Sturm. “Unless one of the board members know something that they can offer that wouldn’t be part of the application process, we typically approve the recommendations. The Board has historically put their trust in the decision of the principals involved in the recommendation process.”

 

If Ayers is approved, Strum said he’ll officially become head coach Wednesday, June 4. He’ll be taking over a very successful program that was coached by Dave Marshall for 19 years. Marshall managed to win eight regional titles, play in two state titles games – the 2012 Class AAA game and the 2013 Class AA game – and win win the ’13 state championship. Along the way, he amassed a 349-105 record and never had a losing record during any of his 19 years.

 

The good news for Ayers is that he’s a part of the winning equation. During 16 of Marshall’s 19 seasons, Ayers was an assistant. He actually served as the assistant during two different stints, returning in time to coach in the Class AAA and Class AA title games.

 

A follow-up story will come on Ayers after the recommendation becomes official.

 

Editor's Note: File photo of Paul Ayers by Ben Queen of www.benqueenphotography.com.