UCA wrestling coach retires, passes torch to son

ASHEBORO — Chris Waddell helped build and lead two outstanding high school wrestling programs in Randolph County during his 22-year head coaching career.

After an eight-year stint at Uwharrie Charter Academy, where the Eagles became a state 1-A power under his leadership, Waddell said it’s time to fully concentrate on his administration duties at the school. So he has hung up his coaching singlet, leaving the program to another Waddell, his son Hayden.

The elder Waddell was honored by faculty, students, administration and the community last week as a “retirement” party was held at the school. 

While one Waddell leaves the wrestling program, another takes it over.

“I just felt it was my time,” the elder Waddell said of retiring. “I finished my Masters and got into administration and with the requirements of being the Dean of Students, it wouldn’t be fair to try and continue to coach. 

“As much time as we put into wrestling, the kids needed someone who is going to be there all the time.”

Waddell, who has been the Dean of Students for three years and the Athletic Director for two, said initial plans were for him to retire last year, but Hayden elected to return to Mount Olive for a fifth season. 

The younger Waddell won’t have to search far for an incredible source of wrestling coaching tips and knowledge. 

Waddell, who was on two state championship teams while a wrestler at East Davidson, started as an assistant coach at South Davidson in 1996 and later helped the programs at Wilmington Laney and Wilmington Hoggard while in college before becoming the assistant coach at Southwestern Randolph in 2001. Waddell played rugby at UNC-Wilmington while helping the prep wrestling programs.

He took over the SWR program in 2002 and helped take the Cougars to the next level. It was there that one of the most successful head wrestling coaches in the state began a resume that can be matched by few. Coupled with his eight-year run at Uwharrie Charter Academy, Waddell finishes his career with:

— An unfathomable 733-68 dual meet record.

— A three-time recipient of the North Carolina Wrestling Coach of the Year (2019, 2020, 2024).

— Eight-time conference coach of the year (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023).

— A five-time state champion (NCHSAA Dual Team state champs in 2019, 2023 and 2024 and NCHSAA Tournament state champions in 2018 and 2019).

— Five-time team state champion runner-ups.

— The coach of 80 individual state placers, including 18 state champions and 17 runner-ups.

— 17 conference championships.

— His teams never finished lower than second place in the conference to qualify for the postseason in all 22 years. 

— He had 14 wrestlers named as the conference wrestler of the year, 67 wrestlers named all-state and more than 200 wrestlers who garnered all-league status.

“It’s all about creating a culture of expectations and family,” Waddell said. “Once you create that family atmosphere in wrestling, kids start to buy in and do the things that are required to be successful. You create a family culture and the wins will come. 

“All the wins and the championships are great, but the thing that sticks out the most are all the outstanding people I have been around,” he added. “Those are the ones who are special to me. The wrestlers, the parents and the administration. They are my family.”

Starting a new program at UCA definitely had its challenges.

“I think about the first day we had practice, the gym was being used so we rolled a mat outside,” Waddell said. “We had 12 kids, maybe 14. Thirty-six kids finished that year. A lot of those kids wanted to be a part of something. And they won the conference that very first year.”

Having his son, Hayden, who already made his mark at SWR, and a number of other Cougar wrestlers move over to UCA certainly helped. “Those were guys I have coached since they were little,” Waddell said.

Now those kids have grown up and one is replacing him at UCA.

“People ask me about coaching my son and it was one of the best experiences I ever had, being around each other every day,” Waddell said. “Our relationship only got stronger. It wasn’t always easy. I was tough on him. But being a part of his journey all the way through high school was special.”

Although the name is the same, Waddell said his son has some important qualities in order to have a successful coaching career. 

“He’s been basically being groomed to do this all his life,” Waddell said of Hayden. “He started wrestling when he was five and he was the first wrestler, really the first here ever to win a state championship. He has great rapport with the kids. He’s approachable. 

“He and I are a lot alike, but he might be a little more outgoing and approachable than I am. He’s a great young man.”

He had a great role model.