Mike Byrnes Coach of the Year - Randy Waggoner
Growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Randy Waggoner was a proud member of the Roosevelt High School Class of 1962 and a proud member of his school’s track & field team. His first outstanding accomplishment as a track & field coach was his first appointment –following graduation – to direct Roosevelt’s freshman track & field team. Coach Waggoner became the school’s youngest coach ever.
After longtime head coach Floyd “Dude” Norman retired in 1968, Roosevelt promoted Coach Waggoner to the position of assistant coach under the late Don Mitchell. In 1976, the Mitchell-Waggoner coaching tandem moved to Roth High School after Roosevelt closed. The same year, the duo led the Roth Falcons to a state title.
In 1979, following the unexpected death of Coach Mitchell, Coach Waggoner became the Falcons’ head coach. Such was the regard for Coach Mitchell that James Caldwell, Roth’s principal, petitioned the Ohio High School Athletic Association, successfully, to approve Coach Waggoner’s promotion, despite his not having a teacher’s certificate.
The Falcons won Coach Waggoner his first state title as head coach in 1981. Roth repeated as state champions in 1982 – this time by scoring a record 77 points.
Coach Waggoner began coaching at Dunbar High School in 1983 following the restructuring of the Dayton school system. At Dunbar, Coach Waggoner led Dunbar to three consecutive state titles over the years 1988-1990.
In 1989 the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches inducted Coach Waggoner into the OATCCC Hall of Fame.
Coach Waggoner’s accomplishments outside of the state and at the national level are just as outstanding. His teams have won two Mansfield-Mehock Relays and five Roosevelt Memorial titles. He has coached a total of seven high school All-Americans.
In 2004 Coach Waggoner moved to Trotwood-Madison High School where he presently coaches. He again is working his magic and producing championship teams that excel at both the state and national levels. His 2007 Trotwood 4x400m relay team captured crowns at the Ohio state meet and at Nike Outdoor Nationals. This year, the 4x400m squad has taken top honors at the Eastmoor Classic in Columbus, Ohio, the Volunteer Classic in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Don Mitchell Roosevelt Memorial track meet. The team has returned to the Nike Outdoor Nationals this year to defend its title.
