Donald Brent Hetzel, aka Don Hetzel, 81, an All-Southern Conference outfielder and the 1966 West Virginia University baseball team captain, passed away on 11 February.
The WVU baseball office and longtime Jefferson High baseball coach John Lowery confirmed his death on 13 February.
Highlights
- He became the athletic director at Jefferson High in 1977 and held that position until his retirement in 2003.
- Hetzel lived in Jefferson County and had the chance to watch his grandsons play college baseball before his demise.
- He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 53 years, Sherry, and their two sons.
Don Hetzel was a key player for the West Virginia University baseball team, starting for three years from 1964 to 1966. He served as the captain in 1966.
During his time in Morgantown, Hetzel maintained a batting average above .300 yearly and earned All-Southern Conference honors in 1965 and 1966.
Back then, NCAA rules didn’t allow freshmen to play on varsity teams, so athletes like Hetzel had three-year careers instead of four.
Under coach Harrick, the Mountaineers were dominant in the Southern Conference, regularly making it to the NCAA Tournament.
Don Hetzel Was Also The Athletic Director At Jefferson High In 1977
Hetzel spent two years coaching the baseball and cross country teams at Davis & Elkins before moving to South Florida to coach at Miami Dade Junior College.
In 1973, he returned to the Mid-Atlantic region and began coaching baseball and tennis at Handley High School in Winchester, Virginia.
Hetzel became the athletic director at Jefferson High in 1977 and held that position until his retirement in 2003.
Was passed along the sad news that 1965 All-Southern Conference outfielder and 1966 @WVUBaseball team captain Don Hetzel has passed away. He was retired and living in the Eastern Panhandle. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
— John Antonik (@JohnAntonik) February 13, 2025
He continued to coach the Jefferson High golf team from 2003 to 2010, earning Coach of the Year honors four times.
Hetzel was named its Athletic Director of the Year as a founding West Virginia Athletic Directors Association member in 1997.
He was inducted into the WVADA Hall of Fame in 2024, the same year he was recognized as one of the first Jefferson High Athletic Hall of Fame members.
During his time at Jefferson, Hetzel was instrumental in expanding sports opportunities for female athletes.
Hetzel lived in Jefferson County and had the chance to watch his grandsons play college baseball before his demise.
He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 53 years, Sherry; their two sons, Brent Hetzel and his wife Shelley of Summit Point, WV, and Dylan Hetzel of Charles Town; four grandchildren: Drew, Dorian, Dash, and Dayton; a great-grandson named Dune; his brother Glen “Denny” Hetzel; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Additional Information
- A memorial service will occur at 1:00 pm on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Asbury United Methodist Church, located at 110 W. North Street, Charles Town, WV, with Pastor Duane Jensen officiating.
- He was born to the late Lowell Hetzel and Ray Miller Hetzel.
- He was preceded in death by one brother, Dave Hetzel.
