As you read this, West Virginia University is likely getting ready to play in the final game of a four-game season opening collegiate baseball series against Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. As you keep reading you will find out that this year’s team has a Bridgeport High School graduate on board in what may be a first.

 

There is no Harrison Musgrave. There is no Chris Enourato or Jeremy Gum. There is no Joe McNamee or Billy Reep.

 

Besides, those BHS alums were players. What I am talking about is someone on the coaching staff. And that individual had just as dominant a high school career on par with those legendary names listed above.

 

This year, in what is WVU Coach Randy Mazey’s final season, 2017 Bridgeport graduate Drew Hefner will join him. Hefner, the holder of three state championships with the Indians baseball team, and one with the football program, is hoping to add a national championship ring to his collection in his first year of Division I coaching.

 

The first step of it started against the Hatters at Melching Field at Conrad Park in Central Florida. The amazing thing about the first step is that he’s joining one of the top programs in the Big 12 and country after just one previous year of coaching on the college front.

 

Before we get there, a little bit of a rewind is in order. Hefner not only left BHS as a state champion in baseball, but in the argument as the best-ever catcher at the school.

 

When leaving the prep scene, Hefner took plenty with him. He had earned Class AA first team all-state selections twice (including captain his senior year) and added USA Today and Gatorade West Virginia Player of the Year to the list.

 

His senior year he batted a whopping .434. The Indians would finish 31-7, and Hefner departed to become part of the University of Charleston’s baseball program.

 

Hefner played four years at UC, and he earned first-team All Mountain East honors at catcher during his time there – as well as earning a bachelor’s degree in political science. He would finish his college playing and academic career at East Stroudsburg in 2022. Along the way, he picked up a master’s degree in strategic leadership.

 

With his playing days in baseball behind him, what was next? More baseball, as it turns out, but on the coaching side of things.

 

Hefner would stay put in Pennsylvania where he would serve a one-year stint as a graduate assistant at East Stroudsburg working with catchers and the offense on a team that posted a 36-14 mark. Then, just months later, he would leave. One year into coaching, he joined the Mountaineer staff as the Director of Player Development at the start of July.

 

“I’ve had a desire for a long time to stay in baseball and be on the coaching side of things and know I’m fortunate to be in this position,” said Hefner. “It happened where it came down to having some connections with Coach Mazey and eventually talking to him a few times on the phone about the position.

 

“I ended up interviewing for the job and they offered me the job and I accepted,” he continued. “As soon as I was done with my responsibilities (at East Stroudsburg) I came down.”

 

Just months into the job, Hefner has been busy getting ready for his first at the Division I level. He said he is in charge of a “lot of complimentary things” that the WVU program does.

 

According to WVU, Hefner’s tasks are indeed varied. The listing states that Hefner assists “the team with daily activities, camp functions, and compliance logs while working primarily with the offense.” Those logs involve making sure everything is following NCAA rules. Some of the daily activities include field setup, running drills in practice, and anything else needed.

 

“I will do what the coaching staff needs to make their lives easier,” he said. “I even have been helping a little bit with the scouting of teams we’re going to play.”

 

Not too bad for a young man who had just one year of college coaching experience prior. Not bad for a BHS graduate whose other coaching experience consisted of assisting area travel teams and doing lessons with fellow BHS alum Alan Robbins (also in the discussion for best catcher ever) at Robbins’ Baseball Dojo.

 

It is highly likely that being a catcher has helped Hefner, the son of Bridgeport’s Chip and Tawnya Hefner, in the rapid rise to the top. Being physically talented is important to be a good catcher, but understanding every phase of the game from what your own defense is doing to what the opposition is doing on offense is what makes a great catcher. Hefner, by any reasonable analysis, met those criteria in spades.

 

While that likely played a part in where he is today, where he was in the past also played a part. Hefner points to his time as a student-athlete at BHS as key to his development.

 

“To compete, you have to balance sports, personal time, and academics. Juggling that successfully requires time management and learning what takes priority,” said Hefner. “That began at Bridgeport. You have to do it in college, but it starts and takes root in high school.”

 

Hefner, who is living in Bridgeport, knows the lessons he’s crammed into his time at BHS, UC, and East Stroudsburg, need to pay off if he wants to continue doing what he’s doing.

 

“This is big-time baseball and a place where I always dreamed of being part of the program. The whole thing is surreal, especially being part of Maze’s last year,” said Hefner. “Between him and (next year’s head coach Steve Sabin) Coach Sabe’s and the entire staff, they’ve turned this into a national championship contending program. It’s really cool to be here.”

 

In this case during the interview, “here” was the Monongalia County Ballpark – a 3,500-seat ballpark that opened back in 2015 at a cost of $21 million.

 

“It’s top notch, but even on the best or worst field, when you’re between the lines it’s baseball. That’s where players and coaches do what they do,” said Hefner, who started playing the game when he was 4 years old. “Still, this place is impressive.”

 

Although his office does not overlook the field, he just has to walk past Coach Mazey’s office, and he can see it all. And on this particular interview, he finished things up talking to yours truly from one place I have never done a phone interview with anyone.

 

“I’m outside in the stands looking at right field,” said Hefner. “After so long, you get used to it, but you still get that surreal feeling every once in a while.”

 

One thing he would like is to stay around for a long while. After all, baseball lifers want to be around the game for most of their lives.

 

“I’d love to be here as long as they’ll have me. If it’s God’s plan, it will happen,” he said. “Right now, I am enjoying this.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo of Drew Hefner courtesy of West Virginia University's baseball program, whie bottom photo of Hefner at the University of Charleston is from Hefner. Middle two photos of Hefner, including one with Coach Robert Shields, are file photos by Joe Signorelli of Ben Queen Photography.