Terry Waters has stepped away from nearly five decades of wrestling coaching to take on the athletic director position at Fishburne Military School in Waynesboro. After announcing his retirement from coaching this summer, Waters did not leave the sport behind; instead, he embraced a new role overseeing Fishburne’s entire athletics program.
Waters, who began coaching wrestling 49 years ago, arrived at Fishburne in 2015. He has guided athletes at multiple high schools including Staunton, Riverheads, and Fort Defiance, and served as an assistant coach at Washington & Lee University. His induction into the Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2022 and inclusion in the National Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma, reflect a career few can match.
The transition has not been without challenges. Waters now coordinates roughly 20 coaches across 10 sports, a demanding task compared to managing his own wrestling assistants. “You’re dealing with 20, 24 personalities,” he said. “That becomes a situation where you have to take a step back and try to understand each coach individually.”
Despite these complexities, Waters described the move as positive. “It hasn’t gone totally smooth, but it’s been a great transition,” he said. His priority remains the same: maintaining close contact with the students. “The thing is I still get to coordinate a lot with the kids. That was the big decision for me, how much involvement would I get to have with the kids.”
Waters’ decision to apply for the athletic director job came after an unexpected opening at Fishburne. He said he believes it was “God opening the door.” Prior to this, he never actively sought an administrative role. “Maybe it was in the back of my mind, but it was never something I really pursued.”
For years, Waters answered questions about how much longer he would coach with a simple reply: one more year. His wife encouraged him to continue as long as he had the energy and desire. “My brother pretty much summed it up when he told me if you like what you’re doing, there is no sense in retiring,” Waters recalled.
That changed this summer when he woke up one morning and felt ready to stop coaching. He told Fishburne staff he was done and planned to walk away. But the athletic director position opened, and Waters decided to apply.
He has leaned on his network of contacts for support, including Frank Kahrs at Grace Christian and David Tibbs from Staunton. “I’ve had athletic directors across the state send me notes telling me if I needed any help just let them know,” Waters said. These connections have helped ease the shift into administration.
The day-to-day work has proven more time-consuming than Waters expected. “You spend a lot more time than I actually thought on the computer,” he said. “Sending emails out, setting schedules, things like that.” He estimates the job requires about 10 hours a day. He has two assistant athletic directors to help, but he plans to attend every home event at Fishburne. “I feel it’s my responsibility,” he said.
Wrestling this winter will be different for Waters, who will watch from the stands rather than coach from the mat’s corner. Rick Palmer has taken over as head wrestling coach. Waters expressed confidence in Palmer’s ability to lead the program forward. “I don’t think I’m going to miss it as much as other people think I’m going to miss it,” Waters said. He added that sitting on the sidelines will be difficult but manageable. “That is something that will be hard, but I’m prepared for that. I’ve done all I want to do in coaching in 49 years. I don’t have anything else to prove.”
Raised in Pennsylvania’s wrestling hotbed, Waters attended Milton Hershey School, where he and his brother were among the first Black students after integration. His background and experience have shaped his approach to leadership. He strives to be fair and open with coaches, aiming for a positive atmosphere. “I wanted to be fair, and I believe that I’m open and positive if a coach wants to talk with me,” Waters said.
As the fall sports season ends and winter sports begin at Fishburne, Waters adjusts to his new role while maintaining a strong connection to the athletes and coaches he supports.
According to Yahoo Sports.
