Local Sports

Battlers name new football coach

Everhart served as an assistant at Fort Valley State

PHILIPPI -- Alderson Broaddus Director of Athletics Carrie Bodkins has announced Travis Everhart as the next head coach of the Alderson Broaddus football team.

Everhart brings 21 years of coaching experience to the Battlers, and he was most recently the associate head coach at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia.

"I am pleased to announce Travis Everhart as our new head football coach," Bodkins said. "He brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to the campus of Alderson Broaddus, and we are excited to have him lead our program.

"It became very evident during the search process that Travis shares the same vision as we do about the future of AB Football. Travis has a tremendous enthusiasm for the program, the student-athletes, the University and the game of football, and we are thrilled to have him in our athletics department."

During his time at Fort Valley, Everhart coached in all three phases, with time spent as the offensive coordinator, the defensive run game coordinator and the special teams coordinator.

He has also been the recruiting coordinator, the offensive line coach and the defensive line coach.

Last year, his first on the defensive side of the ball, Everhart coached a defense that was ranked in the top 25 nationally in Division II, and included the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year.

"I am thrilled for the opportunity to continue my coaching career as the head football coach at Alderson Broaddus University," Everhart said. "I am excited to lead the Battler football program and to achieve success on and off of the field. My goal is to create positive change by 'Building Special'. I am looking forward to building a football program where our players are developed into extraordinary leaders while achieving team and personal goals.

"Winning is our objective, but the education of our student-athletes will be our passion. Our coaches, student-athletes, and support personnel will be a cohesive unit, hallmarked by a trustworthy, competitive, all-in mentality. We will 'Build Special' by building up our people. You win with people."

Prior to Fort Valley, Everhart was the assistant head coach, co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at West Virginia State.

In 2017, Everhart was an integral part of the first winning record at W.Va. State since 2008. The offense that Everhart coordinated set 10 school records on the way to being ranked in the top 35 nationally.

Everhart is no stranger to West Virginia, as he has also made stops at the University of Charleston as the special teams coordinator, the tight ends and fullbacks coach and the wide receivers coach.

During his time at UC, the Golden Eagles made their first-ever appearance NCAA D-II playoff appearance in 2015.

He also spent time at West Virginia University Institute of Technology as the offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and strength and conditioning coordinator.

Everhart is a 1999 graduate from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where he was a four-year starter as a nose tackle and long snapper. He went on to earn a degree in elementary education from Capital.

Everhart earned his master’s degree in geography and regional planning from California University of Pennsylvania.