Stroke of Greatness: Polly Linden's Legacy at Harpeth Hall

Harpeth Hall swim coach Polly Linden stood on the pool deck, her eyes trained on the water as a group of her swimmers cut swiftly through the aquamarine surface, leaving competitors in their wake.

The energy escalated with each split time that flashed up on the enormous scoreboard at the University of Tennessee. Lap by lap, it became increasingly clear that the four Harpeth Hall swimmers competing in the 200 medley relay could break a national record. Harpeth Hall spectators and teammates watched in anticipation as each second ticked by. Then, without warning, the scoreboard went black. As the final swimmers touched the wall, the Harpeth Hall relay team handily clinched the state title win—but how fast had they gone?

The humid room filled with thick suspense.

“It was as if time stopped,” Coach Linden remembers, reflecting on the unforgettable moment. “We all stared at the scoreboard, waiting for it to light back up.” When it did, cheers erupted. Not only did swimmers Alex Walsh ’20, Ella Nelson ’19, Alex Massey ’20, and Gretchen Walsh ’21 win the event by nearly 10 seconds, but the four swimmers combined for a time of 1:38.77, setting a new National Independent High School record in the 200 medley relay.

Coach Linden knows how to ignite that kind of spirit in her swimmers and her students.

For 30 years, she has led the swim team at Harpeth Hall, but her commitment spans far beyond the pool deck. She is a teacher, department chair, mentor, and confidant. She organizes the class schedule for every student in the upper school and cares very deeply about service, sponsoring multiple co-curriculars focused on making a meaningful difference in our community, including ActNow, Harpeth Hall’s largest club.

“She is a force,” Director of the Upper School Frances Fondren-Bales said of Coach Linden. “One who everyone holds in high esteem due to her work ethic, her willingness to chip in with programs big and small, and her dedication to supporting girls until they succeed before school, after school, and every single minute while they are at school.”

The seconds, minutes, and years have ticked by at a rapid pace. This spring, Coach Linden announced that she would be stepping away from the pool deck, retiring as head varsity swim coach at the close of the 2023-2024 school year. But her time at Harpeth Hall is not done. She plans to get involved in new areas of the school—and continue to illuminate the futures of students to come.

Rising Above: The Making of a Coach

Coach Linden came to Nashville to be a math teacher. She was two years out of college and, in her words, mostly “underemployed.” Her mom sacrificed a lot for her education, so she knew she could not turn down a job offer. Still, Nashville was far from home, and she had hesitations.

She found comfort in the familiar, knowing that Harpeth Hall was similar to the girls school she attended in Connecticut. In fact, she wore the same Campbell plaid when she was a student. So, she settled into her new position in Nashville. In her first year at Harpeth Hall, at age 24, she taught five math classes, was head coach of the swim team, and was assistant softball coach. By her second year, she was the head coach of both softball and swimming.

Before she arrived, Harpeth Hall girls who wanted to swim had to go the club route. Coach Linden swam for Division III Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She knew Harpeth Hall had an Olympian in Tracy Caulkins Stockwell ’81, who won three gold medals at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Coach Linden, through her leadership, team building, and push to succeed, created an opportunity for future Harpeth Hall girls to follow closely in Ms. Stockwell’s wake.

“She believed in us,” said Leah High ’99, “and we had a good time along the way.”

Building Self-Belief

Under Coach Linden’s direction, Harpeth Hall’s swim program celebrated remarkable success. Her teams won 12 Tennessee State Swimming and Diving championships. She was named TISCA coach of the year three times (2002, 2005, 2007), and MTHSSA coach of the year twice (2010, 2018). She led Harpeth Hall swimmers to 25 consecutive region championships from 1998-2022, and Harpeth Hall claimed the national high school championship in 2018 and 2019.

But titles and trophies mean little compared to the trust she built with her swimmers. She believed in every one, and, in turn, they believed in themselves.

“I think the most rewarding part of being a coach would have to be seeing and helping the girls become the best version of themselves, whether as an athlete or teammate or leader,” Coach Linden said. “One does not have to be THE best to be their best.”

For Bunny Stream Hempel ’99, that confidence in her inspired something she never thought possible. Because of a congenital defect, Ms. Hempel was told she would never be able to swim competitively. For four years, she worked on her breaststroke in the “slow lane,” with Coach Linden encouraging her. By senior year, Ms. Hempel qualified for Midstate competition. “It’s one of my proudest achievements,” Ms. Hempel said, “and I thank Polly for never giving up on us and always being amazing.”

Cuda Family Forever

While the pool always brought extraordinary achievements, reflecting back, Coach Linden’s swimmers—and Polly herself—say some of the best memories came on the journey.

Megan Murray ’02 and Lauren McCarthy ’02 remember singing Christmas carols down the lanes, and listening to Eye of the Tiger on repeat driving to meets at McCallie. “I feel like when people ask me why I love Harpeth Hall so much, a lot of it is because of Polly,” Megan said. “We had so many friends on the swim team and had the best time.

Rides to and from meets were always filled with cheers, stories, and even the occasional bus malfunction. Once, the bus ran low on gas on the way back from Chattanooga, and the girls summoned their “inner MacGyver” to try to pick the locked gas cap so they could fuel up and get home. Another time, one of the two team buses blew a tire near an exit in Bell Buckle, and all the girls piled in one vehicle and had a “dance party,” which meant singing at the top of their lungs for the rest of the trip.

“No one probably remembers the results of that meet,” Coach Linden said, “but I am quite sure every one of them remembers that drive back to Nashville.”

And that, she said, is indicative of what it means to be a swimmer at Harpeth Hall. “Our swim team is a family, lovingly referred to by the girls as the Cuda fam. Whether they were on the team in the 90s or today, they are all members of the Cuda fam, a competitive, supportive, fun-loving family of Harpeth Hall swimmers/divers.

“ . . . What makes these times so memorable is that the girls always make the best of it and love nothing more than a good story,” Coach Linden said.

A Legacy of Excellence and Commitment

The story they will love to tell best is that of Coach Linden’s legacy at Harpeth Hall. She always

pushed girls on—and off—the pool deck.

There are not many AP calculus teachers who create a learning environment like Coach Linden’s. One current Harpeth Hall student told Ms. Fondren-Bales she would attend two of Coach Linden’s classes back-to-back if allowed. “She just makes math so interesting,” the student said earnestly. Coach Linden has girls up and doing math, growing in confidence, and ready to dominate the AP exam. And they do dominate, averaging a 4.92 out of 5 over the last decade on the challenging BC Calculus exam.

“A proud graduate of women’s college, Polly understands the value of our girl-focused environment,” Ms. Fondren-Bales said, “particularly in STEM classes. She strives to help our girls move confidently into the world, knowing that they are math people no matter what profession they choose to pursue.”

She also strives to show the girls the importance of being good people.

For Coach Linden, service is as fundamental as schoolwork—and she models that in all she does, working closely with student clubs to engage with and support the local community. By participating in activities such as meal preparation for families experiencing homelessness and writing cards for patients and nurses at Vanderbilt, the girls learn that even small acts of kindness can have a significant impact. Through these experiences, Coach Linden hopes to instill in her students a lifelong commitment to making a meaningful difference in their communities.

For the last 30 years, Coach Linden certainly has made a difference at Harpeth Hall as an educator and coach.

“We are so grateful for all the time, and effort, and care” that Coach Linden put into the swim team, Kate Mabry ’18 said.

While this race may have ended, the scoreboard still glows bright.