VIDEO: PAUL HATCHER HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY
Paul Hatcher's achievements in basketball began as a Bridgewater College player and continued to grow as a legendary coach in the Virginia High School League.
Paul is most noted for his work as the head coach at Robert E. Lee High School in Staunton, where in 1998 he became the winningest coach in VHSL history. During Paul's 31 seasons at Lee, he has compiled a 630-127 overall record and his teams have captured two state championships, four state runner-up performances, 11 state tournament berths, 10 regional titles, 16 district championships, and an amazing 24 regular season district titles. Two of his Lee teams went unbeaten en route to winning Virginia state crowns, and Paul has been honored by state and local media as a Coach of the Year an extraordinary 16 times over the course of his career. He compiled the most wins of any coach in Virginia during the 1970s and the 1980s, and in 1995 was inducted into the VHSL's Hall of Fame. Paul also has twice been one of eight finalists for the National High School Coach of the Year, once in 1985 and again in 1996.
Prior to his success at Lee, Paul was a standout on the hardwood for Bridgewater, earning four letters from 1961 to 1966. A two-time All-Virginia Little Eight and All-Mason-Dixon Conference selection, Paul led the conference and placed third among all state collegiate players in scoring during the 1964-65 season. Paul finished his college career with 1,358 points, an average of better than 16 points a game, and he currently stands 13th on the Bridgewater career list in scoring. He also was a four-year letter-winner in golf and was the team's number one player during his senior season.
Paul has been recognized a number of times by the City of Staunton for his work with young people in the community. He received the Outstanding Citizen and Community Service award from the Staunton City Council in 1977, and in 1984 Paul was cited by the city for his contributions to the youth of Staunton. In 1990, Paul and the R.E. Lee team were recognized by the Virginia General Assembly, and the following year the House of Delegates passed a resolution honoring both Paul and his players. Most notably, the gym in Robert E. Lee High School was named "Paul Hatcher Gymnasium" in 1990, and the mayor of Staunton proclaimed a day in his honor.
