When alumni talk about the Darlington legends who transformed their lives, they inevitably mention Jim Van Es – the recently retired educator, coach and mentor who gave more than four decades of service to Darlington.
Van Es began teaching math and coaching basketball at Darlington’s Middle School in 1968 when it was still known as the Junior School. Years later, he became the division director/principal and played a major role in creating the classic culture of the Middle School that alumni remember so fondly. Those who went through grades 6-8 during his tenure usually have at least one story – if not several – about Van Es and how he impacted their lives.
“I am so glad that my two daughters had the opportunity to have Jim as their teacher and principal, and that I had the opportunity to work with him for many years,” said Sylvia Lanier, a former member of Darlington’s admission staff. “He was the most caring person and always cherished his students and faculty with the highest esteem. Jim was the best at being in control; yet, at the same time, the students knew that they were truly loved by him and that he cared for each one of them individually.”
In later years, Van Es was instrumental in helping Darlington secure the necessary funding for Thatcher Hall, the state-of-the-art Middle School facility that opened up to grades 5-8 in August 2009.
“No one could convey the dire need for this new building like Jim Van Es,” said Joe Montgomery, chief advancement officer. “The old Junior School building was a part of him and he was a part of it, but he knew we had outgrown it. When Jim talked, people listened.”
In athletics, Van Es has demonstrated his versatility by coaching boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball, varsity football, varsity baseball and junior varsity basketball. As a basketball coach, he led 12 teams to the state tournament and one team to the Final Four. For his dedication to coaching, he was recognized by Scholastic Coach Magazine with a National High School Basketball Coach Gold Award in 1989 and is a member of Franklin Select Circle of High School Coaches. He is also a two-time Northwest Georgia Coach of the Year, and has also been recognized as Coach of the Year by the Northwest Georgia Tip-Off Club.
But perhaps one of his greatest honors came in 2009 when he was inducted into the Rome-Floyd County Sports Hall of Fame with the Lifetime Achievement Award after being nominated by 22 members of the first sixth-grade class he taught at Darlington.
“There are many words that can be used to describe Jim Van Es– father, teacher, headmaster, principal, assistant coach, head coach, friend, care giver. All describe a unique quality in Jim and the talent that goes withthe title,” read the nomination letter. “But perhaps the one he enjoys the most is coach … it is [this title] that challenges him and enables him to instill in the lives of his players the drive and ambition to succeed, not at all costs, but yet through determination and purpose. It is his lifetime of achievements in this role that make him a perfect candidate for the Rome-Floyd Sports Hall of Fame.”
Many of Van Es’ other former colleagues and students, including Darlington past-presidents Gordon Bondurant and Jim McCallie and University of Florida head football coach Will Muschamp (’90) also wrote letters on his behalf.
“Coach Van Es rarely had the most talented team, but he always had the hardest playing team. That is the best compliment you can have as a coach,” Muschamp said. “I learned valuable coaching lessons from him in my three years playing varsity basketball that I still use today. His basketball knowledge is vast, but his personal touch is what makes him special … The success I enjoy today can be largely attributed to Jim Van Es. He taught usmore than basketball. He taught us about life.”
Two years ago, Van Es went back to teaching and coaching full time. Over the years, his successes as an educator, coach, mentor and friend have been recognized with Darlington’s Oscar Betts Master Teacher Award, R.M. Yankee Teacher Award and James Douglas Brown Jr. Faculty Award. He has also appeared multiple times in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.
“Jim’s 44 years at Darlington have been marked by countless successes – the most important among those being the thousands of students he has taught, coached and mentored along the way,” said Headmaster Tom Whitworth. “When he stepped down from his administrative post two years ago to go back to teaching full time, he continued to support his colleagues and our students wonderfully as we adopted a new outlook on teaching and learning. He has been a great team player and I am very proud to have known him. It’s not surprising that Jim did what he does best – transforming the lives of young people – right up until the end of his tenure at Darlington.”
