While reflecting on this, his 44th year as a high school coach, Jim Holdren said, "From the time I was in the sixth grade, I knew exactly what I wanted to do."
He added, in all seriousness, "Research scientist."
The track trumped the lab. Holdren coached William and Mary's cross country team as a senior in 1963 because the man in charge of the program went overseas that fall to conduct running clinics.
"Changed my whole life," Holdren said.
Coaching hooked him. Holdren returned to his high school alma mater, Thomas Jefferson, the following year to teach math and chemistry and coach track.