Brad Hitchings is a physical education teacher at Greenwood Elementary School. He and his wife Thedi have been teaching school in the Florence area over thirty years. Brad has been the head coach of the Florence Area Swim Team (FAST) since 1989. He was also an assistant coach of the team during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Brad was chosen South Carolina Age Group Coach of the Year for the 1998-1999 swim season. He was the South Carolina Senior Coach of the Year for the 2004-2005 swim season.
Brad obtained his Masters degree from the University of South Carolina (USC). He attended USC on a four year swimming scholarship. While swimming for USC, Brad qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 100 and 200 yard butterflies. He was also the school record holder in these events.
During the summers of his college years, he coached the Green Acres Summer Swim Club to four undefeated dual meet seasons and four year-end Brandywine Swim League championships.
During his younger years, Brad swam at the YMCA in Wilmington, Delaware. At the age of 12, he won the 50-meter backstroke at the AAU Junior Nationals. At the age of 13, he joined the Wilmington Aquatic Club under Coach Bob Mattson. As a senior in high school, he also qualified for the Nationals in Dallas, Texas in the 100-yard backstroke. Brad held several Delaware state records as a youth, including the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyles; the 100 and 200-yard backstrokes; the 100-yard butterfly; and the 100-yard individual medley.