Jim Tate
St. Paul's Episcopal School
Impact Statement
“He is a great teacher, a great human being, and he made a difference in so many kids’ lives through the sport he loves.” -Steve Savarese, AHSAA
Biography
A Mobile native, Tate came to St. Paul’s in 1978. He has been the boys’ and girls’ cross country coach and the boys’ and girls’ track and field coach ever since. He has built a resume that would warrant his selection as National Coach of the Year in any of the four sports.
Tate’s teams have won an incredible 56 state team titles – 17 each in girls’ cross country and track and field, 13 in boys’ track and field and nine in boys cross country.
In the 1980s and 1990s, it was his girls’ cross country teams that were setting the standard, setting a national high school record with 16 straight state titles from 1983 through 1998. All four programs have built title streaks lasting at least three seasons.
Tate’s cross country teams have won both the boys’ and girls’ state meets five times, and this year his track and field teams won both state meets for the 10th time. In the 1984-85, 1991-92 and 1994-95 school years his teams went a perfect 4-for-4, sweeping both the cross country and track and field state meets in those seasons.
Tate was named Girls’ Cross Country Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations in 1999, and he was inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. St. Paul’s also honored Tate by naming their track complex in his honor.
Since being honored in 2010 Tate has continued to lead St. Paul’s to state- wide dominance. His teams continued to excel under his direction.
In February of 2017 his team won his 100th State Title in Track and Field and Cross Country.
After 52 years of coaching, 42 of which was at St. Paul’s, Tate announced he would be retiring after the 2019-2020 school year. He retires with 102 State Championships in Boys’ and Girls’ Track & Field and Cross Country. His teams have also finished second 53 times.
As AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said: “He is what every coach should desire to become. He has led by example. He is a great teacher, a great human being, and he made a difference in so many kids’ lives through the sport he loves. He is truly a shining star in the education profession.”
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