BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — Dr. C. Douglas (Doug) Ward, Tug Valley High School principal, has been named the 2025 Administrator of the Year for West Virginia. He will be recognized for his achievement at the North-South Football Game on Saturday, June 14.
“To be selected as the Administrator of the Year by the West Virginia Schools Coaches Association (WVSACA) is a great honor. I accept this honor on behalf of our entire faculty, staff and a great group of coaches and athletes at Tug Valley High School,” Ward stated. “We have achieved noteworthy academic and athletic achievements at TVHS. Notably, Tamra Ferris (TVHS assistant principal) and Clyde Farley (TVHS athletic director) are very instrumental in our success at TVHS. Tamra leads the academic successes of academic progress for TVHS, with test scores exceeding state averages and continued early college achievement and career and technical program expansion. We have a culture of post-secondary success at TVHS.”
Ward continued by highlighting the strength of the school’s athletic leadership.
“Clyde oversees the athletic program, and our successes are well-known, ranging from state championships to all-around competitiveness in every program. He directs a strong group of coaches in each sport who are dedicated to developing successful young men and women. Our successes are a reflection of the dedication of our coaches. Clyde orchestrates the program beautifully. This can be a challenge in a small school, but the athletic programs speak loudly,” Ward added.
He also noted that the academic accomplishments of the school are equally impressive.
“Academically, our school is a statewide leader in college attainment with our early college program seeing students graduate with associate degrees as well as a high school diploma. We have a truly great group of teachers at TVHS who truly make it a special place. We have been fortunate the past few years to have great kids with self-motivation who make academic and athletic goals more attainable,” Ward said.
“Their efforts are paying off,” he concluded. “This year our students garnered $1.2 million in scholarships and financial grants to attend college and career technical programs. We also have four students in early admission programs to medical schools at Marshall and Pikeville who are recent graduates of TVHS. We were ranked first a few years ago by U.S. News and World Report as the top West Virginia school under 400 students—again, a credit to our teachers and students. Our students are to be applauded both academically and athletically for creating a culture of success. It is a unique school where we all play our roles. It is the efforts of many which have allowed me this honor.”
Ward has been an educator for several years and first served as a teacher and football coach at different schools in Mingo County including Williamson, Burch and Tug Valley.
He later moved into an administrative role and has served in that capacity for the last few years.
Ward was a standout athlete at Williamson High School and later attended Marshall University. He received his doctorate from Morehead State University.