While most Choate teams were driving up to Deerfield on November 10 to participate in the annual Deerfield Day festivities, the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams gathered in the woods to celebrate long time coach Jim Davidson’s dedication and perseverance in coaching.
At the suggestion of Director of Athletics Ned Gallagher, the athletic department decided to dedicate the newly constructed bridge located on Choate’s new cross country course to veteran cross country coach Jim Davidson, in honor of his close to 100 consecutive seasons coaching interscholastic sports at Choate (this winter is his 98th consecutive season).
Notified of the planned dedication ceremony the preceding night, the cross country teams gathered around the bridge at 10:10 am, hoping to surprise Mr. Davidson. Mr. Gallagher “used a very good deception,” according to Mr. Davidson, by informing Mr. Davidson that there was a donor who requested a picture with him at the bridge. Mr. Davidson rode up to the bridge in a golf cart soon after.
Recalled girls’ cross country runner Caroline Bazinet’10, “[Mr. Davidson] was completely surprised after seeing the runners at the bridge.” During the ceremony, Mr. Gallagher gave a brief speech to acknowledge Mr. Davidson’s great tenure as a coach. Following his remarks, girls’ cross country captains Kelly McDonough’08 and Grace Peard’08 said a few words. Immediately following the speeches, the plaque was uncovered, which officially names the bridge the “J.D. Bridge” for his dedication to coaching at Choate.
Later that day many cross country runners utilized the new J.D. Bridge while competing in the New England Prep School Championships.
Mr. Davidson began coaching at Choate in 1975. At this time cross country was a predominantly boys sport at Choate, and thus he first coached boys’ thirds cross country in the fall. He continued coaching that year with basketball in the winter and track and field in the spring.
Mr. Davidson is the founding father of the girls’ cross country team at Choate. The athletic director in 1976 wanted a girls cross country team to start. Mr. Davidson explained, “Because of the number of sports offerings at the time, [the athletic department] was changing some of its other philosophies, and the number of boys who were running began to decline. The athletic director called for a separate girls’ team soon after.” The girls cross country team began under the leadership of Mr. Davidson in 1976.
J.D., as many students affectionately call him, has coached both boys and girls in many different levels in cross country, basketball, and track and field. In cross country he has coached boys’ thirds, boys’ JV, and girls’ JV and varsity, which has always been one entity. In basketball Mr. Davidson has coached boys’ thirds, boys’ JV, girls’ JV, and girls’ varsity. Mr. Davidson has also coached the boys’ and girls’ JV and varsity track and field squad, which is also one entity.
Currently Mr. Davidson coaches the girls’ cross country team in the fall, which includes both JV and varsity, the girls’ varsity basketball team in the winter, and the track and field team in the spring, which includes boys and girls at both the JV and varsity level.
When asked about his motivation to coach for such a long time, Mr. Davidson stated, “It is a combination of love of the sport and certainly the enjoyment of developing the kids, many of which have their first serious exposure to the sport while at Choate.” He continued, “The bridge is awfully nice to be remembered, but for me I’ll remember the kids.
Mr. Davidson’s teaching and coaching philosophy is centered on the kids and certainly not winning. He explained, “A player pointed out that I’m getting close to 300 basketball wins, but to me it’s how hard you, as a coach, work in practice, and if you can keep the balance of being serious and having kids engaged athletically.”
Cross country and track runner Grace Peard has had J.D. for four years in a row. She reflected, “J.D. is an amazing coach but also a friend to all of us. He encourages us to be better people inside and outside of running. He is all about sportsmanship, and treats everyone equally no matter what level. He is a true guiding force.”
Kelly McDonough commented, “I’ve never doubted J.D.’s coaching abilities. He knows so much about the sports he coaches. His jokes add a great flavor to running as well.”
Students who have had J.D. as a coach or teacher can attest to his unique sense of humor. When track and field runners claim to be too tired, Mr. Davidson sometimes responds, “Only a bicycle can be two (too) tired.” If a cross country runner fears a heavy rain fall, Mr. Davidson may say, “It never reigns (rains) on Choate cross country.”
Caroline Bazinet especially appreciates Mr. Davidson’s meditation exercises. She said, “J.D. prepares us well physically and mentally.”
Although Mr. Davidson has coached for many consecutive seasons, he has taken sabbaticals which have allowed him to take a break from teaching while continuing coaching. He said, “I’ve been lucky because the sabbatical program way back was a little different. I was taking graduate classes during my first sabbatical but I was still [at Choate] and didn’t leave and my schedule allowed me to continue to coach which I was very grateful to do because it gave me a break from studying.” Other sabbaticals that Mr. Davidson has taken have been in the summer.
As to the future of Mr. Davidson’s coaching, he states, “I’m hoping to coach as long as I feel I’m effective. There will be a point at which, at or before retirement, I’ll probably feel that I wouldn’t be effective. I know myself well enough that I would make the change at that point just so the kids in sports don’t go down because I like to feel that you build the sports teams up and you keep them going at a level that our school would want to support.”
Runner Caroline Bazinet decisively said, “I don’t see Mr. Davidson leaving coaching any time soon.”
