Thank ‘Doc’ for Charlotte Latin’s swimming dominance

Correspondent

For the last four decades, the Charlotte Latin swimming program has proved to one of the best in the state. The program’s two head coaches, Steve Howard and Patty Waldron, have guided the Hawks boys’ and girls’ teams to more than 800 victories, 40 conference titles and 19 state championships.

But behind Howard and Waldron, there’s been a constant in the program for the last quarter century: Dr. Ken Collins, known affectionately to his colleagues, friends and students as “Doc.” He has helped thousands of student athletes, both in the pool and in the classroom as the Head of Upper School Mathematics.

Collins, 68, has been a teacher at Latin since the second year it was open in 1971. He has also been an assistant coach on the swim team since 1988. Those who know Collins best say there’s no way to measure what he means to the school and its students.

“Doc is literally an institution himself, with all he has done for our school,” said Charlotte Latin Headmaster Arch McIntosh, who took over the position 12 years ago. “I’d describe him as a Charlotte Latin treasure. He’s one of the most popular teachers we’ve ever had. But he’s so much more than a teacher and coach to so many of our students, past and present.”

While many students have known him as their math teacher, Latin swimmers over the past three decades remember him most as the voice they heard just before they jumped in the pool and the moment after they finished that race.

Doc always tries to encourage his swimmers to motivate their best performance, and afterwards – win or lose – he is proud of what they accomplish.

“I feel Doc has been in the blocks for us – talking up the swimmers, making sure they get in the right lane – forever,” said Howard, who coached Latin swimming for the first 33 years of its existence. “He always gives them something positive to build on, no matter how talented that swimmer might be. He was (and is) a big influence not only on our swimmers, but on myself.”

Doc is a calming influence on swimmers and coaches alike. Both Howard and Waldron admit he is often the voice of reason in heat of battle.

“Doc is always there to keep me levelheaded. And sometimes it as easy as saying, ‘Patti, they’re just teenagers,’ ” Waldron said. “Doc always finds the positive in any situation. I think he really teaches the kids how swimming can be an example of how you deal with things in real life. You have to learn to deal with winning and losing – and keep working hard to get better.”

Collins not only coaches the sport, but he also regularly participates in the daily pool workout during the season, admitting he still tries to keep pace with his current Latin swimmers.

“I try to swim every day, and it really helps my physically, psychologically and mentally. I always feel better after a swim,” Collins said. “In the season, I really love doing the swimming workout with the kids. It’s not easy keeping with all of them, but I enjoy trying.”

Collins is his 43rd year teaching at Latin and 26th year as a part of the swimming team – and he is showing no signs of slowing down. McIntosh said “he has no plans of retiring,” at this point.

Waldron and Collins have been hard at work trying to lead their 2013 Latin boys and girls swim teams to a state title. Both finished as N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state runners-up last year. The Latin boys are unbeaten right now; the girls have lost only twice.

Waldron has seen it all in swimming – coaching at SwimMAC for more than 30 years and guiding more than 20 swimmers who have made it to Olympic Trials, including Olympic gold-medalist Ricky Berens. She is impressed with what Doc does for Latin.

“To me, Doc is like the Bill Guthridge to Dean Smith,” said Waldron, Collins to the legendary University of North Carolina basketball coaches. “For most part, Steve, and then I, have been out front (as head coaches). But Doc is irreplaceable in all that he has done behind the scenes.”

While Doc is revered by nearly everyone he has coached, taught and come across at Latin, the feeling is mutual. He and his wife, Mary Beth, recently donated $500,000 to help support financial assistance for Lower School students.

“Latin has been a huge part of my life, and I have been extremely lucky to have been at such a wonderful school for a long time,” Collins said. “It would be impossible for me to calculate how much the relationships I have had, and have, here have impacted me.”