CHARLESTON, S.C. – This summer The Citadel Athletic Department is highlighting a number of our coaches in a series titled Coach's Corner. The videos will post each Wednesday morning throughout the summer and are intended to help Bulldog fans and supporters get to know our coaches away from competition. Each Coach's Corner episode features the coach reflecting on his or her background, goals and experiences, in addition to their attraction to The Citadel and coaching our cadet-athletes. Links to previous Coach's Corner posts can be found at the bottom of this article. This week we feature
Jody Huddleston.
Rapid Fire
Last movie you saw in a theater: I don't know the name of it, something with my daughter
Favorite professional team: Dallas Cowboys
Last book you read: The Chemist
Favorite meal: Pasta at Mondo's Delight on James Island
Favorite musician: Darius Rucker
1. Where did you grow up?
I was an Air Force brat and about every three years I moved. I lived in England for a while, I actually don't remember but my dad was stationed in Istanbul Turkey. I actually had a sister that was born in Tripoli, North Africa. They didn't have a hospital at the base we were at so they had to fly her down there and she was born in Africa. So I lived in England when I was in elementary school, and then we moved I remember we lived in Myrtle Beach (SC) for three years, Warner Robbins, Georgia, for a few years, and then my dad passed away when I was fifteen years old and my mom remarried and we settled in Orange Park, Florida, they did, and I lived there for a few years in high school, and then Mobile, Alabama, and then Shawnee, Oklahoma, and then The Citadel.
2. What sports did you play growing up?
I mostly was involved in track and field, I played, well I was a bench warmer on the basketball team in high school but that's kind of where I got started, got my track and field going, when I got cut from the basketball team.
3. Who was your favorite athlete as a kid?
The first athlete I remember really liking was Bob Hayes because he was an Olympic champion.
4. How did you first get interest in your sport? Was there anyone who influenced you?
I got interested in track, like I mentioned before, I was cut from the basketball team and had two friends that actually made the basketball team and figured they were going to letter and I wanted to letter so I went out for track and as it turns out I lettered and neither one of them did.
5. Tell us about your most memorable vacation:
I would say, I guess I call it a vacation it was a working vacation, but for three years in a row I got to go to Europe with a group of kids who had just graduated high school and they participated in some track meets in Europe. One in Spain and one in Paris, and so for three years we got to travel by bullet train and stuff between Barcelona and Paris and Lausanne, Switzerland. That was amazing.
6. Where is a place you would like to visit that you've never been?
I would like to go to Canada; I've never been there. The photos I've seen, it is beautiful up there, just all the greenery, the mountains the culture is different it's mostly French. I would like to take, there's a train that goes across country, across Canada. I would like to take that train.
7. What is your favorite place in Charleston?
I think my favorite place is this little park called Sunrise Park on James Island that overlooks the harbor. It is absolutely gorgeous.
8. How did you get into coaching?
I went to junior college out of high school and I think he saw something maybe in me at the time that I didn't and he gave me a lot of responsibilities. I had a student work-study job that I worked for him and, like I said, he gave me a lot of responsibilities and kind of planted that seed of wanting to be around track and field and work and be able to work with the kids on the team at the time, which were my teammates, and I think he did that and I didn't know he was doing it.
9. What attracted you to The Citadel?
For me at the time I was coaching at a private Baptist college in Oklahoma and the opportunity to coach at Division I was my goal at the time, so I was fortunate enough to get a call and then get the job.
10. What do you enjoy most about the culture at The Citadel?
What I enjoy the most are the young men and women who are here are dependable and hard workers. Particularly the kids that we have on our team go above and beyond. They not only work out and do the things that we ask them to, they also volunteer for community service activities and we're always helping do, run a race-off or parking detail or doing something on campus and the kids always respond to that. So I like that, their willingness, the family atmosphere that is at The Citadel is a big draw for me.
11. Tell us about your most memorable experience so far at The Citadel:
I would have to say being able to accompany
Capers Williamson to the US Olympic trials last summer, so far the biggest, now if he goes to the Olympics that'll be a little bigger but it'll be fun.
12. What has been your favorite part about working at The Citadel?
The fact that it's a small community and over the years I've met a lot of people, so I know a lot of people on campus and its very nice to walk around and be able to say high to everybody that you know. Walking to the canteen or the library or here or there and seeing so many people on campus that you know and that know you, it's very fun.
13. What is the best part about coaching?
The best part about coaching is being able to work with the athletes. Again, they're hard workers, they're dedicated and they want to be successful. And that for me is a pleasure to work with someone who wants to be better.
Coach's Corner Schedule
May 31 - Jody Huddleston
June 7 - Sandra Worman
June 14 - Chuck Kriese
June 21- Jack Marchant
June 28 - Lori Bonacci
July 5 - William Smith
July 12 - Craig Mosqueda
July 19 - Erin Leonard
July 26 - Rob Hjerling
Aug. 2 - Kris Kut
Aug. 9 - Ciaran Traquair
Aug. 16 - Stevi Robinson
For more information on The Citadel track and field, follow
@CitadelOlympic or visit CitadelSports.com.
