McGee Moody finds new purpose as swim coach at Gray Collegiate Academy

McGee Moody has found new fulfillment in coaching at Gray Collegiate Academy after spending 14 years leading the University of South Carolina’s swimming program.

Now in his third season with Gray, Moody has embraced coaching high school athletes, finding it just as rewarding without the relentless demands of college athletics. 

“College athletics has created this high-pressure environment of, if you are awake, you need to be working,” Moody said. “… (And) high school swimming allows me to continue to coach and mentor, not only athletes but coaches as well.”

Kevin Heise, athletic director of the West Columbia charter school, saw the opportunity to bring Moody on when the school created a team.

“We wanted to start a swim program,” Heise said. “We wanted to do it the right way. We wanted to have somebody with expertise. And obviously, McGee checked all those boxes. For us, it was a win-win from the get-go, and it’s proven to be so. He’s grown our swim program, and we’ve had some state champions in several events. It’s just onwards and upward from here.”

Gray has finished as the state runner-up in the past two years while competing as a program for three, quickly making a name for itself in South Carolina high school swimming. The school, which frequently accepts students from outside its attendance zone, recently was moved up to 4A, South Carolina’s second-largest classification.

For Moody, the thrill of coaching hasn’t changed, regardless of the level. Watching swimmers exceed their own expectations is what keeps him passionate about the sport.

“My favorite part of coaching at any level is seeing the surprised look on an athlete’s face when they touch the wall and go faster than even they thought possible.” he said.

His impact as a coach extends beyond just training swimmers — he has built lasting relationships with his athletes.

Bella Pantano, who swam under Moody while at USC, recalls how deeply he cared for his team.

“Moody’s passion for swimming and love for both the sport and the program was infectious,” Pantano said. “He truly cared about each and every person on the team, always making a conscious effort to get to know us and push us to be better both in and out of the water.”

Even swimmers who only spent a short time under his leadership recognized his influence.

“I only swam under Coach Moody for a year, but the upperclassmen had nothing but love and respect for him,” Pantano said.

Moody said he has built his coaching philosophy around instilling confidence in his athletes, emphasizing that success isn’t limited by the size of their school.

“We have a championship mindset, and we will race with anyone that wants to step up on the blocks,” Moody said. “It has been a lot of fun.”

His decision to join Gray wasn’t just about a career move, it was a personal one. His youngest daughter, Whitney, attends the school.

“When my daughter made the decision to go to Gray Collegiate Academy, the principal, Dr. Brian Newsome, and the athletic director reached out to me,” he said. “It was a no-brainer. I have always wanted to coach my youngest daughter.”

Moody also uses his years of experience to bring expert insight to media coverage of swimming. He is an ESPN commentator for both the men’s and women’s Ivy League championships, offering detailed commentary on the races.

“It is an absolute blast,” he said. “It comes very easy to me because I get to talk about what I see developing in a race and try to paint a picture to the person watching on television. Years of coaching experience gives me a very unique perspective on what to watch for during a race and bring that to the attention of the viewers.”