Sitting Down With McGee Moody
By Alice McCall, Freeman Class of 2019
McGee Moody is well underway in his 13th season as Head Coach at the University of South Carolina. We managed to chat with the Gamecock leader about his experiences leading up to this point. McGee, an East Carolina Pirate graduate of ’98, was fortunate enough to begin his coaching career in his backyard, but through the years this career has allowed him to coach at some of the most respected programs in the nation. Take a read to find out some hidden facts you may not have known about the South Carolina Head Swimming and Diving Coach, and what he has to say about serving on the CSCAA Board of Directors.
Photo Courtesy the University of South Carolina
What makes South Carolina a special place?
The first-year experience for our students. Not only do we see it as coaches but South Carolina is ranked as the number one university in the country for first-year student experience. It’s one of the most important things because up to this point in life, this is the biggest change these kids have had to face. Being a part of something that is now bigger than themselves it’s a big change and it can be overwhelming. So, to be in a university that puts so much emphasis on the adaptation from being dependent to independent is a pretty cool thing to watch!
As far as our swimming program goes, we build on that first-year experience and make it a very family-like atmosphere. My wife and daughters are the most important thing to me on this earth and my athletes know that, but they also know that they are as close to family as they can get.
What motivated you to join the world of coaching?
I’m a very competitive and driven person. Once my college career at East Carolina was done, before I had even gotten out of the water from my last race, my head coach (Rick Kobe) asked me to come see him in the office on Monday and then asked me to stay on as a staff member. I got to continue to live in a sport I love, one that challenged me, and motivated me.
My “why” has really shifted in my career. Initially, it was about winning, and as I got older and wiser, the idea of developing young people married itself with winning. It became more important to me to become an influencer and help these student-athletes transition through college. What I found was the more I poured into that side of coaching, the more the wins came.
What prompted you to serve on the CSCAA Board of Directors?
Joel Shinofield (past CSCAA Executive Director) had reached out to see if I would be interested. The collegiate model is really changing, so to have the opportunity to be a part of the association’s leadership structure, it was an absolute no-brainer. It was an opportunity for me to pick the brains of other coaches on these changes, how to best implement them, and how to influence our sport in a positive way.
What is your proudest accomplishment as a part of the CSCAA Board?
I think the things I am proudest about is watching the leadership that’s involved. Our Executive Directors, Joel Shinofield and now Greg Earhart, along with our board are keeping swimming and diving at the forefront of changes like early recruiting, pay-for-play and NIL (Name Image and Likeness). Being a part of the board allows me to work alongside some really great coaches who I have a ton of respect for. At this year’s convention in Myrtle Beach, I remember sitting around the table thinking, “man, this is really cool and there’s a lot of wisdom sitting around this table here.”
What was your most memorable talk at the CSCAA Convention?
In 2016 we had Brad Snyder, a former Navy swimmer of mine. He received the Charles McCaffree Award and spoke about his life as an athlete, his injury in the Navy, his disability and how he overcame it. That was the best one to me. Second in line would have to be a few years ago when Brian Schrader interviewed Eddie Reese. Finally, I also love listening to these young coaches, like Todd DeSorbo who are at the cutting edge of coaching and trying all of these new things.
Who have been some of your mentors and why?
Greg Troy. (2010 National Collegiate Scholastic Trophy Winner) It’s interesting because I don’t think he would ever tell you he has sat in that role. I think he would say that he and I are more friends. But there have been many times I’ve called him on the phone and said “Coach, what would you do here?” and he would walk me through what his thinking was.
Jim Steen, (1995National Collegiate Scholastic Trophy Winner) I worked his camp at Kenyon for years and just being around him makes you a better coach. You don’t really have to ask any questions, you just watch him operate and he makes you better.
George Kennedy (2010 Richard E. Steadman Award Winner). I’ve known George for years and I actually just reached out to him not too long ago just to chat with him even though he is retired now, I value his wisdom, a ton.
The last one is a unique situation and a lot of people don’t think of it in this way, but it’s past president Mark Bernardino. Even though Mark worked for me at South Carolina, it was very much a partnership along the way and he is an extremely close friend of mine. Whenever I was uncertain about a situation, I had an Associate Head Coach sitting beside me that had 30+ years of experience who I could ask “if you were in my chair right now, what would you do?”
All of these guys have helped me through some difficult times in coaching, helped me through some road blocks and made me a better coach and person.
What has been one of your biggest obstacles and how did you overcome it?
Changing as the generations change. I don’t like change, it’s hard on me and that’s just me being transparent. Through my time at Navy and the military, I’ve witnessed great leaders operate and I’ve seen what works. I know in my heart, the way to create leaders and develop good upstanding people, and as these generations change, they respond differently. I have had to shift my approach to connect more effectively with student-athletes coming up through high school and college. My younger assistants have really helped me connect. Erin Mullins, especially, is brilliant at this.
What is the biggest challenge facing college swimming and diving?
I think the Pay For Play and the NIL. I think both are bad, not just for swimming and diving, but all Olympic sports. There are so many questions that are unanswered right now and nobody has a sustainable plan to make it work, so my fear is that it’s going to take away sports, and everything below football and basketball becomes club. This is something that has the potential to impact every level of swimming. The NCAA model has helped created an incredible international swimming dynasty and also creates opportunities for hundreds of thousand youth swimmers. In my opinion, this is going to be a fight for our existence.
What’s a fun fact about McGee Moody?
I was an officer in the Navy for four years and a firefighter for seven years all while being a swim coach. I started fighting fires when I was at the Naval Academy and I was a firefighter in Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, right across the bay bridge right outside of Annapolis. I was also a firefighter in Williamsburg, Virginia when I was the head coach at William and Mary. I actually fought a fire in our own pool there, the chemical room caught on fire in the pool and I was on the shift that had to go put it out.