Coach Bill Hodge
In November of 2010, the track and field community lost a shining light with the sudden passing of Coach Bill Hodge. He died doing what he loved to do for over four decades . . . inspiring and coaching runners to achieve their full potential in running and in life. Bill began his lifelong dedication to track and field as a runner at Monsignor Farrell High School and Staten Island Community College.
Bill began his coaching career at Moore Catholic High School where he jumpstarted a lackluster program through his enthusiasm, dedication, and great personality. Bill knew instinctively when a proverbial kick in the pants was needed or words of encouragement or a joke to break up the tension with his quick humor. His runners always gave 110% because they knew he was there with them . . . heart and soul. When the Moore Catholic team tragically lost their Co-Captain and leader, Dan McGuire, Bill handled the traumatic loss with such class and reverence. He kept the team together and used Dan’s favorite phrase as our motto, “To the Max!”
Bill progressed through numerous college coaching assignments including Wagner College, Robert Morris University, Lafayette, Columbia University, Bucknell University, Rider University, and, most recently, Belmont Abbey College. During his career, Bill was honored as “Coach of the Year” in four different NCAA Division I conferences. A four year runner at Moore Catholic, John Cizin, says of Bill, “He taught me so much more about life than just running. He taught me about hard work, teamwork, and dedication.”
Bill’s accomplishments will be there for the record books in the annals of track and field for the ages but his true and most important impact on the world was the intangible positive influence he had on the so many young people he coached in life without even knowing it. He wrote in my high school yearbook, “Keep Plugging!” This is so typical for Bill with his infectious positive attitude.
