Putnam County High School has hired Gabriel Dyar as its new head softball coach as the program looks to rebuild.
Dyar replaces Mollie Jones, who coached the Lady War Eagles for the last several seasons. He is currently an assistant on the varsity baseball staff, but he is now stepping into his first head coaching role.
Dyar, 24, said he wants to emphasize development, fundamentals, and building a competitive culture.
“It truly was an honor to receive this type of job, especially at my age,” Dyar said. “I’m excited for the opportunity to lead this program and work with student-athletes. It means a lot to be trusted with this responsibility.”
Dyar also credited Putnam County baseball head coach Stephen Phillips, whom he played for at Locust Grove. The two remain close, and Phillips said he’s looking forward to working together on the same staff.
“He’s helped out in a lot of ways, and I look up to him as a mentor,” Dyar said of Phillips. “I’ve learned a lot from him.”
Despite limited direct softball coaching experience, Dyar said his familiarity with the game and passion for developing athletes made him confident in taking on the role. He added that he sees many positives in the Putnam County program.
“Putnam County has great potential, and I saw this as a chance to build something special with this team and the community,” he said.
The Lady War Eagles have struggled in recent years, but Dyar said the foundation is in place to begin moving the program forward. He credited the previous coaching staff for preparing the team for future success.
“[Coach Jones] did a wonderful job lining things up,” Dyar said. “Now it’s about taking that next step.”
Dyar said his immediate priorities will be to improve fundamentals and increase competitiveness across the roster. He also pointed to pitching as a key area of focus.
“Pitching is the way to go,” he said. “If you pitch well, you have a high chance of being successful.”
In addition to on-field improvements, Dyar emphasized the importance of establishing a positive team culture and getting players to buy into a long-term plan.
“I want our players to trust the process,” he said. “If we work together, we can accomplish great things.”
Putnam County will begin offseason development soon, with summer workouts expected to play a key role in preparing the team for the 2026 season.