BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The Bridgewater College Department of Athletics mourns the loss of legendary Virginia high school basketball coach and BC Hall of Famer Paul Hatcher who passed away on Friday.
 
Hatcher, a 1966 graduate of Bridgewater, led the Robert E. Lee High School (now Staunton High School) boys' basketball team for a total of 43 seasons and amassed 897 career victories, which is the most in Virginia High School League (VHSL) history. Along those 43 years at the head of the bench, Hatcher never had a losing season and during one stretch from 2003 to 2006, the team won 85-consecutive games.
 
In total, 29 of his seasons saw at least 20 or more victories and he finished his coaching career with an impressive .837 winning percentage. Three teams finished with unblemished records including the 2005 team that was in the midst of the unbeaten streak. The squad lost just one game in 2006, which came in the state championship game.
 
His teams won state championships in 1984, 1990, 2004 and 2005 and finished as the state runner-up five times. In addition, Hatcher claimed VHSL State Coach of the Year laurels 11 times and was named a VHSL All-Star Game coach seven times, as well. He was one of the eight finalists for the National High School Coach of the Year award several times.
 
Hatcher's playing days began at Bassett High School before going to Bridgewater where he amassed 1,358 points over his career. He was a four-year starter and served as a team captain, while claiming two All-Virginia Little Eight selections and was picked for the All-Mason-Dixon Conference team as well. Hatcher was third on the team in scoring during his senior campaign. In addition, Hatcher was a two-year member of the golf team.
 
Hatcher was inducted into the Bridgewater Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999 and has also been enshrined in the Robert E. Lee High School Hall of Fame, the Virginia High School Hall of Fame, the National High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame and the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame. The gymnasium at Staunton High School was renamed the Paul Hatcher Gymnasium in his honor.
 
Hatcher was 80 years old.