Beloit College

For a college that strives to recognize and achieve excellence in performance, “Herb” Hodges serves as a bright beacon because of his superior record and unparalleled ability to relate to young people.  After an outstanding Illinois prep coach career, with his 117-11 mark including seven championships each in conference and relays competition at Wheaton, he came to Beloit and developed some of its finest teams and individuals.  Hodges had three consecutive conference champions, several Beloit Relays titlists and four unbeaten dual-meet seasons in five years before going to the University of Alabama and leading teams to one league and two major relays crowns during 1951-53.  Returning to Beloit, he coached the 1954 cross country squad to an undefeated campaign, the state AA21 title and a 14th-place national ranking.  His track teams, competing as an independent, participated in the nation’s premier relays and in 1955 won the Midwest Relays.  Hodges resigned in 1957 to take a special teaching-counseling position in Rockford, but colleague Dolph Stanley coaxed him back into coaching at the new Auburn High School – and in the six seasons before he retired, his trackmen won two conference titles and met dual-meet defeat just twice.