PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WMDJ) – Former Blackcat football standout Wes Hager has returned to his alma mater confident that he can bring Prestonsburg High School football back to prominence.
The son of Floyd Central head football coach Shawn Hager, Wes was serving as an assistant coach at Martin County High School, helping the Cardinals offense create video game statistics for a team that finished (7-6), falling to Beechwood in the regional championship last season.
The first-year head coach will look to turn the page on a forgettable 2023 season that saw the Prestonsburg program fall well below expectations, losing to county rivals Betsy Layne and Floyd Central. To make matters worse, Betsy Layne was even able to notch their first-ever playoff win over Prestonsburg, defeating the Blackcats twice last fall after going 36 seasons between victories over the blueblood program.
Hager has enjoyed a nice honeymoon period since his hiring was announced in February, but he’s ready for the pressure that comes with meeting expectations in Prestonsburg.
“I understand I’m young, but I’m very energetic, very ready to get started like I said,” Hager said. “I’ve embraced the pressure because this program like I said, it was one of the best programs in eastern Kentucky. Rome wasn’t built in a day, there’s going to be a process, but I would encourage the fans and the community to get behind us and you’ll start to see things turn around.”
Hager brings instant credibility and a renewed vigor to Prestonsburg. Wes brings not only the experience of being a coach’s son to his new position of leadership, but he will also draw from experiences of playing under longtime Blackcats coach John Derossett and being around the legendary Jim Matney while his father was coaching at Sheldon Clark.
“I’ve taken aspects from both John Derossett, Jim Matney and my dad and kinda blended them together. I come from a long line of unbelievable coaches, but I’m going to try to make my own thing. I’m not going to re-invent the wheel, I’m going to create a name for myself.”
Prestonsburg will run the veer-and-shoot offense, which Hager says will give the Blackcats multiple looks for opponents to try and stop. Versatility will be the key for Prestonsburg’s offense and create an exciting brand of football for the players.
“2A football you just don’t know what athletes you’re going to get. One year you may have three backs that are bruisers and one year you might have three Olympic track guys.”
Prestonsburg will lean heavy on senior Dalton Elliott, who collected over 900 yards of total offense and scored 12 touchdowns in 2023. Elliott will not only handle snaps out of the backfield but expect to see Elliott run the offense from the quarterback position in a wildcat scheme.
The Blackcats will open the season on the road at Leslie County on August 23rd. Prestonsburg will then take part in the WYMT Community Trust Bank Pike County Bowl, facing East Ridge on August 31st. The Blackcats first home game will be against Paintsville on September 6th. Prestonsburg will look avenge losses to their county rivals, hosting Betsy Layne on September 27th and Floyd Central in district play on October 18th.
