The Darlington Athletics department is pleased to announce new head coaches for cross country, swimming, and softball for the 2019-2020 school year.
Andrew Beckman will serve as head coach for the varsity cross country team. Beckman has taught science in the middle grades since 2017. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from The University of Alabama, where he served as a chemistry tutor and lab researcher. He was a member his high school cross country team at Randolph School and won four straight state championships.
"I am very excited that Andrew will lead our cross country team," said Eddie Guth, director of athletics. "He is a proven winner, extremely hard-working, and committed to doing well in all he does at Darlington."
Anna Swafford (‘11) will serve as head softball coach, assistant track coach, and strength and speed assistant. Swafford was a four-year scholarship athlete starter for the University of Georgia softball team where she completed her collegiate career as seventh overall at UGA in homeruns, first overall in hit by pitches, and top 10 overall in stolen bases. Click here to see stats about Swafford’s softball career at UGA.
Since graduating from UGA, Swafford has served as a middle school PE teacher, varsity softball head coach, and middle school track and field head coach for Mount Pisgah Christian School. She continues to participate in coaching/leadership roles with several organizations in clinic settings, including Higher Ground Softball, Softball Factory, and NSTA along with numerous recreational, school, and club programs in order to continually refine and improve her coaching skills as well as developing and maintaining coaching and recruiting contacts in order to assist student athletes.
Swafford graduated in 2011 from Darlington, where she was a four-year starter for the varsity softball team as well as a member of the track and field team for four years and varsity basketball team for two years. She played travel softball for the Georgia Impact and Easton Elite. Swafford holds a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences and a Master of Science in Sports Management and Policy from the University of Georgia.
“We are very excited to have someone with Anna's experience and enthusiasm to lead our program,” said Guth. “She left an incredible mark at Darlington as a student athlete and I am excited what she will do as a leader and a coach.”
Leigh Hadaway will serve as head swim coach. A recent graduate of Berry College, Hadaway holds a B.A. in both Visual Communication and History. While at Berry she served as swim team captain and competed in 11 collegiate swim meets and set seven personal records. She remained on the SAA Academic Honor Roll throughout her collegiate swim career and also served as student director for the Sports Information Department. Click here to see details about Hadaway’s swim career at Berry College. A leader on campus, Hadaway served as a First Year Mentor and was also communication coordinator for the Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship, of which she was a recipient. She received the N. Gordon Carper Scholarship, and the Noel and Todd Carper Award for the junior History major with the best overall academic record in history courses. When she joins the Darlington faculty in the fall, Hadaway will also serve as Upper School history teacher.
“I am delighted that Leigh will join our athletic department as our head swim coach,” said Guth. “She brings a positive energy and a wealth of experience as a swimmer and a leader. Her enthusiasm is exciting!”
