Published June 29, 2008
By Jay Edwards
The Charlotte Observer
Patty Waldron has gotten up at 3:51 every morning for 19 years to go to work at Charlotte Latin.
But for the first time in her life, Waldron will actually work for the private school when she starts there as the head boys' and girls' swimming coach this August.
Waldron, who has never been a high school coach, has worked for the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club (MAC) as a swimming coach for 25 years. MAC has owned and operated the pool at Latin since 1989, sharing it with the school's swim team.
So this fall, Waldron will only have to move over a few offices to take over for Latin's only swim coach in the history of the school, Steve Howard.
“I'm very excited and very honored to have been chosen the (head swimming) coach at Charlotte Latin,” Waldron said.
She will retain her responsibilities as head site coach and Head Masters' Coach at MAC.
“Steve Howard has been the only coach there (at Latin) in 33 years. To take what he's built and continue it is a huge responsibility,” Waldron said.
Howard won 19 state championships, 10 for the boys and nine for the girls. He also won all 17 conference championships his boys' teams competed in and 16 of 17 with the girls' teams.
Howard, 60, also compiled a 665-147 record, including most recently back-to-back titles with the boys in 2006 and 2007. The Hawks' boys were also the state runner-up in 2008.
“It's never a good time to step down,” Howard said. “But for me, it's the right time. The only coach we wanted to replace me was Patty. If she didn't take the job, I might still be here.”
Waldron feels equally as honored to have been chosen by Howard.
“To be Coach Howard's first choice means a lot to me,” Waldron said.
Howard will remain a teacher at Latin for a few years.
“We have worked together for a long time, bouncing ideas off each other. He'll continue to help me adjust to the job,” Waldron said.
Howard says he'll only be a phone call or a few offices away.
Meanwhile, the administration at Latin sees it as a mixed blessing.
“To lose a guy like Steve Howard is never easy,” Charlotte Latin Athletic Director Jimmy Broadway said. “But I think we're getting as good a coach as we could have gotten. Patty brings a lot of experience to the table.”
Waldron, 46, has been one of the main cogs at MAC since graduating from UNC Chapel Hill in 1984.
After being a part of the four-time Atlantic Coast Conference champions in college, she took her winning ways to MAC.
There, she helped transform MAC into one of the best swim clubs in the state.
Since the early 1980s, MAC has produced more than 600 college swimmers and has been the club team of the year for 25 years running. This year MAC will send 34 swimmers to college, and 26 to the Olympic trials.
“I think the great thing about MAC is that it has always been about the kids, not making money,” Waldron said.
“That is the same focus that I will have at Latin.”
Waldron, who estimates she has worked with about 150 Charlotte Latin students over the years, will have some familiar faces at both jobs.
Colin and Caroline Higgins, brother and sister, swim for Latin and MAC.
Waldron says the Higginses will likely follow in the footsteps of their older brother, Charlie Higgins, the 2008 Observer swimmer of the year.
Waldron will certainly be capable of teaching any swimmers as she has coached everything from toddlers to international competitors over her career at MAC, including two Olympians: Jillen Soroky (1996) and Melvin Stewart (1988 and 1992).
"I've always known Latin to be a class act; really, Latin is like family to me,” she said.
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