Life has slowed way down for three-time Olympic track gold medalist Jeremy Wariner, and not just because he’s a high school coach and no longer owns a sandwich shop.
Wariner used to love life in the fast lane when he was the No. 1 400-meter runner in the world. In 2008, before he competed in the Beijing Olympics, the brazen former Arlington Lamar and Baylor star told Autoweek magazine, “I’m fast, and so are my cars. Each of my cars is unique, just like I am.”
At the time, he owned a Mercedes-Benz S600. Now 37, he’s married, has three kids and drives an SUV.
Wariner’s job used to be traveling the world as a professional runner to see if he could surpass the legendary Michael Johnson as the greatest quarter-miler in history. He nearly did in 2007, when he won the 400 at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, by running 43.45 seconds — just off Johnson’s world-record time of 43.18 that stood until South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk ran 43.03 at the 2016 Olympics.
Wariner’s travels this weekend will take him to a less glamorous locale — Waco Midway’s Panther Stadium — where his job will be to help others try to win gold at the highest level. Wariner is in his third year as the head track coach at Dallas private school Parish Episcopal, and he will have athletes competing in seven individual events and one relay at the TAPPS state track and field meet Friday and Saturday.
“At first it was a little stressful, jumping right in as head coach and not really knowing what to expect or what to do, but I’ve learned over the last two years, and I’ve been enjoying it,” Wariner said. “I’m making this program into a top-notch private school program in D-FW.”
He has done that by keeping it about the kids, not by regaling his athletes with tales about his glory days. He has, however, discussed his most painful loss — finishing second in the 400 at the 2008 Olympics when he was the favorite — to help his athletes learn how to deal with adversity.
“I didn’t know he was an Olympian until my dad told me,” said Parish Episcopal sophomore Samantha Ward, who will run the girls 100, 200 and 4x100 relay at state. “He will talk about how he was in high school, but not that much. He’s motivational and pushes us to keep going.”
Wariner wants to make a career out of coaching, and at some point may look to join the college ranks. He is one of two former Olympians coaching at an area private school, along with Fort Worth All Saints head coach Darvis “Doc” Patton, who earned a silver medal as part of the United States’ 4x100 relay in 2004.
“I’ve always been a fan of Jeremy because of his work ethic. And you’re always a fan of people from the Metroplex,” said Patton, who ran at Lake Highlands and TCU. “Just seeing what he was able to do in his career was phenomenal.
“We were all at one point kind of young and immature kids that they gave some money to [to run professionally]. To watch him transition to being an amazing father and husband was most impressive.”
Patton was a private trainer before he got his first head coaching job at All Saints. Like Wariner, Patton wants to have a long run as a coach. The two talk at meets, and they will give pointers to each other’s athletes.
“It’s a labor of love,” Patton said. “As much as I get frustrated, I’ve found just as much joy watching the kids succeed or accomplish a new personal best. Just seeing their eyes light up from one performance, knowing that we trained, we practiced, we worked hard, and that was the final result.”
Life has changed dramatically for Wariner since he won gold medals in the open 400 and 4x400 relay at the 2004 Olympics in Athens — at the age of 20 — then added another gold in the 4x400 relay at the 2008 Olympics. From 2015 to 2020 he owned a Jimmy John’s just outside of Deep Ellum, juggling that hectic job with his running schedule until he retired from racing in 2017.
At times, his work for the sandwich franchise required him to be fast — when he was delivering orders.
“I learned a lot from it, but I’m kind of glad to be out of it. This is a little bit less stressful,” Wariner said. “I was basically full hands-on there. I went from just being an investor to actually full-time working in the store — opening it, closing it, sometimes delivering, just helping out where needed.”
He may not look much different than he did in his heyday, but he’s not about to go out and run a 44.00-second 400 (his winning time at the 2004 Olympics). He didn’t just retire from racing. He stopped running.
“I’ve got to start getting back into shape. I haven’t really worked out in about three years since I retired,” Wariner said. “My body still looks the same, but my breathing and my desire to get out there and actually do something has changed a lot.
“A couple of years ago, I raced a couple of my athletes. I’ve got to get back into shape before I do that now or I’ll tear a hamstring or something.”
Wariner has wanted to be a coach since he was at Baylor and trained under Clyde Hart, who coached nine Olympians who earned 13 gold medals. Wariner served as a volunteer coach at Baylor for about a decade while he was training in Waco, then was contacted by Parish Episcopal athletic director Brett McCabe after McCabe learned that Wariner had a connection to the school through a family member and was looking to transition into coaching.
“I gave him a phone call, just a shot in the dark, to see where he was at in his life and if this might be something he would be interested in,” McCabe said. “It just so happened that the timing was right.
“He had been trying to get a college job, but he just didn’t have any experience. I know that sounds funny, because the guy was an Olympic gold medalist. He didn’t have any coaching experience, so none of the colleges were really looking at him. I think he looked at Parish as an opportunity to get his feet wet and gain some experience and see where it goes.”
In addition to coaching track, Wariner has worked the last two years as an assistant for football, a sport that he played at Lamar (he was a wide receiver) and considered trying to play in college. He helps coach the secondary, along with former NFL defensive back Jacob Lacey.
Two of Wariner’s athletes who will compete at state are going on to play college football — Stanford signee Austin Uke (will throw the shot put and discus at state) and Oklahoma Baptist signee Jai Moore (long jump).
“It’s crazy seeing him here coaching us,” said Uke, an offensive lineman who helped Parish Episcopal win its second straight TAPPS Division I state title in football last season. “At first, I was like, ‘Is that really Jeremy Wariner?’ I grew up watching YouTube highlights of him.
“He has always been super relatable, super down to earth. You would never know talking to him that he’s an Olympian.”
Best in the world
A look at the top 400-meter times in world history.
Time, Athlete (country), Year
43.03: Wayde van Niekerk (South Africa), 2016
43.18: Michael Johnson (USA), 1999
43.29: Butch Reynolds (USA), 1988
43.39: Michael Johnson (USA), 1995
43.44: Michael Johnson (USA), 1996
43.45: Jeremy Wariner (USA), 2007
Source: Track & Field News
Photos
Below are some photos of Jeremy Wariner’s athletic career: from a wide receiver at Arlington Lamar to an Olympic gold medalist.
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