Staten Island – Former Wagner College head track & field coach Bill Hodge, who was currently serving as head track coach at Belmont Abbey (NC), died suddenly Friday evening at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte after suffering a heart attack during the Conference Carolinas Cross Country Championships at McAlpine Creek Park.

A graduate of Monsignor Farrell HS, Hodge began his coaching career at Moore Catholic HS.

“Bill was a tremendous coach and an even better person,” said Wagner Director of Athletics Walt Hameline. “My heart goes out to his family during this difficult time.”

Hodge, 60, was a multi-time coach of the year honoree in four different Division I conferences and a highly successful recruiter with an emphasis on success in and out of the classroom. He was in his first year as the head cross country coach and second year as track and field coach at Belmont Abbey College. He joined the Abbey program after two years at Mount Olive College, where he started the men's and women's track and field program in 2008.

Hodge spent seven years as head cross country and track and field coach at Rider University and five years at Robert Morris College. A three-time MAAC Coach of the Year, he guided Rider to the 2004 women's outdoor track and field conference championship, the first in school history, and produced the men's cross country team's highest finish in school history. Hodge led Robert Morris to two track and field conference championships, the first two in school history, and won Northeast Conference Coach of the Year honors in back-to-back years. A month prior to his death, Hodge was inducted into the Robert Morris College Athletics Hall of Fame.

He spent seven years as head assistant coach at Bucknell University, which won Patriot League Coaching Staff of the Year honors in four of his seven years. Hodge was also a women's two-time East Coast Conference Coach of the Year, during his five years at Lafayette College, where he started the program. He was also head coach at Columbia University as well as at Wagner. .

Hodge was originally from New Jersey. He is survived by his wife Jadwiga, and four children: daughters Gina, Ada and Roksana, and a son, Cyprian.