Jarrett Hatcher named executive director of First Tee Shenandoah Valley

STAUNTON — After 30 years of teaching, Jarrett Hatcher is ready for a new adventure. The Staunton High School social studies teacher will retire after this school year and become the new executive director of First Tee-Shenandoah Valley.

First Tee is a youth development organization that promotes character-development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Locally, the program is being taught at Craigsville, North River, Riverheads, and Wilson elementary schools in Augusta County; and Bessie Weller, McSwain, and Ware elementary schools in Staunton. It also covers schools in the city of Harrisonburg as well as Rockingham, Shenandoah and Page counties.

Hatcher said overall the program is in 40 schools throughout the Shenandoah Valley. The program is led by the physical education teachers with the help of First Tee staff as part of their yearly curriculum.

So maybe it won't be all so new after all. It will still involve teaching and schools, and Hatcher has been playing golf most of his life. He even coached it at the high school level and played it at Bridgewater College.

"The job with First Tee seemed too enticing not to try," Hatcher said. "I love golf and like kids and I like golf instruction. All those things really fit. I was very intrigued and very fortunate that the board hired me."

After he got the offer, Hatcher said he did some soul searching to see if this was really what he wanted, leaving a school in which he's been a student, a teacher and a coach, for something brand new.

"I think it's a unique opportunity for me," Hatcher said. "It's the right time. I've spent a lot of time here and parts of (leaving) are going to be sad."

Teaching was not in Hatcher's plan when he was a college student. He got hired in 1992 to coach the junior varsity basketball team at what is now Staunton High School. He was going to coach for a year, maybe two, before going to law school. However, the joy of coaching with his dad, the legendary Paul Hatcher who coached varsity high school basketball for four decades, proved to be too great and law school never happened.

"So much of why I came here to be a teacher was because of my dad," Hatcher said. "Those were probably the most enjoyable years, coaching and teaching with him."

Paul Hatcher died this past August.

"I grew up coming to this school, I grew up going to my dad's work, to my dad's games," Hatcher said. "I was a student here. So really this has encompassed my whole life."

First Tee's goal is to allow all children to grow character through the game of golf. The program says no youth will be turned away due to financial restrictions. Hatcher will be overseeing First Tee-Shenandoah Valley's facility, staff and program. He'll be in charge of continuing to grow the local chapter.

He said the program director, Drew Fournier, is amazing and one of the main reasons he felt comfortable taking the job.

"As I asked around, people said you've got two great things going for you," Hatcher said. "You have a tremendous board and you have a great asset in Drew."

In addition to teaching, Hatcher spent 25 years as a basketball coach at what is now Staunton High, winning a state championship in 2017 as head coach. He was also the school's golf coach for 16 years and tennis coach for 10 seasons.  He's also been a volunteer assistant coach with the Bridgewater men's basketball team, a job he'll continue.

"In the short time I have known Jarrett I would say his energy is contagious," Fournier said. "He is passionate about helping kids and growing the game of golf. As someone who is not from this community, I am grateful to have insight into his knowledge about the Valley."

Hatcher's first job in golf was a forecaddie at the 1983 VSGA State open. He has worked in various roles at three different area courses, he has taught youth golf classes and has volunteered to work at major championships. During his summers off from teaching, Hatcher often worked in golf and, of course, played lots of golf.

“I am so fortunate that my father introduced me to golf as a kid," Hatcher said. "It has been my passion since I was 7 years old. Golf has introduced me to so many wonderful places and meaningful relationships."

Now Hatcher hopes to pass those benefits along to children throughout the Shenandoah Valley.

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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Jarrett Hatcher named executive director of First Tee Shenandoah Valley