How and when did you get involved in coaching?
I was offered a coaching job in Great Falls in 1983. I hadn't planned on teaching when I graduated,and I wanted to continue playing football. After playing with a summer league team, one of the coaches was a high school coach in Chester and he recruited me to the Chester County School District. I accepted a position in Great Falls teaching and coaching.
Photo: Calvin Hudgins (right) with Mauldin coach Delmer Howell
Did you run and what level?
I played football and ran track at Catawba College, which is located in Salisbury, N.C.
Northwestern coach, father emphasizes no shortcuts in life, cross country
Are you still running today? Please explain.
No I am not, I have a bulging disk in my neck and the doctor recommends that I walk instead of run.
What experience did you have from being on a team and how do you feel that helps you be a coach?
You learn the value of working together to reach a common goal. I also learned that so often success is dependent upon how hard you work, while staying within the team concept.This means that sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone.
What subject or subjects do you teach and at what level?
I teach everything in the Physical Education department at Northwestern High School and I also teach Healthy Lifestyles.
How do you find athletes to join the cross country team?
Being in PE helps with recruiting. I am able to see most of the kids during the ninth grade year. The PE staff also helps guide kids to teams that fit their skills.
What kind of pre race tradition do you prefer?
We feed the kids the night before big meets. Our parents prepare food and we serve it to the kids. It is always a great meal.
What challenges do you have as a coach?
Recruiting has gotten more difficult. When they opened South Pointe eight years ago, they changed the demographics of Rock Hill High and Northwestern. We have a totally different student body than we had before they opened South Pointe.
How do you balance life responsibilities?
I seem to stay in a frenzy about half the time. I am the head coach of four sports at Northwestern, (Boys and Girls track and cross country) and I am the Department Chair for the Physical Education Department. I am at school a lot of nights and I and lucky that I have a very understanding wife.
What do you see your team doing this season?
Our girls should compete for the region title and the boys are real young and improving daily. It should be exciting.
What kind of coaching style do you have?
I try to stay positive and do what I tell them that I am going to do. I have found over the years that it is important for me to not to get to high with the highs or to low with the lows. I try real hard to be consistent.
Is there one moment you will not forget from coaching?
Having coached all three of my children makes answering this question difficult. There are so many things that they have accomplished. In 2004-05 my oldest son Brandon, led the cross country team to the AAAA state title and came back in the spring and won the state in the 1600 meters. We won back-to-back state titles in cross and my oldest son led the 2004 team to the state title and my second son, was on the team in 2005 which had all five runners finish in the top 12 finishers. His 12th place finish earned him all state honors as well as the team title. I also have a daughter who earned All-region honors as a senior in the 4x800 relay.
What do you hope each runner gets out of being on the team and the sport?
They learn that hard work and commitment does pay off.
What have learned from your athletes?
That most of them really appreciate what we do for them. They know the staff works hard at putting them in a position to be successful.
If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
Let’s just say that I would cure my son. If you know my son Brandon, you know what I am talking about. He has struggled with an auto-immune system disease and he hasn't let that deter him. He continues to train and compete in spite of his medical problems.
My name is Brandon Hudgins. I am a runner