Q&A with Philip Simmons head T&F coaches Ryan McCauley and Emma McCauley
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A Q&A with Philip Simmons High School Iron Horses track and field head coaches Ryan McCauley and Emma (Santor) McCauley.
How long have you been coaching?
Ryan: 8 years
Emma: 5 years
What is your background in this sport?
Ryan: Participates in high school track and field.
Emma: Went to Wando High School and was an 800m/4x800m runner.
What are one or two things that the team does in training that are keys to their success?
Both: We like to have everyone work together no matter what level they are in during their development. They get to see at the beginning of their career how practice is run and how hard the older athletes work, and it is contagious. It becomes our standard.
Please describe the most memorable games/tournaments/championships your team has won.
Ryan: For me, it鈥檚 my first year as head coach winning the state championship. There was a group of seniors that I worked with since their freshman year that we had a special bond with. They set the standard for how Philip Simmons track and field is supposed to work, and it paid off for them.
Emma: One of my most memorable state championship meets was in 2022 when we were champions as a team and our individual female athlete, Naj Watson, was named the 15th girl in the history of the state of South Carolina to win 4 gold medals at a state track meet. My favorite meet from the past season (2025) is when our senior male sprinter, Corey Steed, ran the fastest 200m dash (21.11) at the Coaches Classic district meet, making him the fastest male 200m runner in the state!
How do you encourage the team after a disappointing loss?
Both: We like to remind all the athletes that it is about the process, not the result. We all like to win, but in track someone could come in 6th and still hit their personal best. We remind them that winning isn鈥檛 everything鈥攚orking hard and trying their best is what really matters.
Describe your proudest coaching moment.
Both: It鈥檚 hard to pick just one moment. Seeing athletes鈥� faces and joy when they reach a goal we worked on together is the best feeling in the world.
What is the biggest life lesson you’ve learned from being a coach?
Both: Everyone starts at a different spot in the development process, and anyone is capable of improvement.
What legacy do you hope to leave as a coach?
Ryan: I really just want the kids to look back and have enjoyed their time being coached by me.
Emma: I want to be remembered as someone who believed in others鈥� ability while pushing them to be the best version of themselves.
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