Hall of Fame - 2001
Troy Hodges
Coach Troy Hodges enters the KWCA Hall of Fame with many years of dedicated service to Kansas high school athletics. Coach Hodges, a native of Lebo, began his career in education in 1969 after completing his education degree at Emporia State University. Coach Hodges taught math at Osawatomie High School and coached wrestling, football, and track for the Trojans until 1977. He became the head wrestling coach in 1972 and head football coach in 1975.
In 1977, Coach Hodges became head football and head wrestling coach at J.C. Harmon High School in Kansas City, Kansas. Coach Hodges’ influence on wrestling began to flourish during his career with the Harmon Hawks. During his 25-year stint as a head wrestling coach, Coach Hodges compiled a 227-122 won/loss record. These teams captured 12 league championships and 29 tournament championships. On the state level, he has coached 37 state placers. Of these, 13 were state finalists, and of those 9 were state champions. Four of Coach Hodges high school wrestlers went on to earn NCAA Division I scholarships. As a head football coach, he has over 100 career wins, 11 league championships, three district championships, has been honored with the 2000 Cecil Patterson Award for the All-Metro Coach of the Year, and has guided 17 players to Division I scholarships.
Perhaps what Coach Hodges is most recognized for is his continued promotion of the sport of wrestling. This began in 1973 when he organized the first junior varsity tournament in eastern Kansas while at Osawatomie High. This tournament has been continued at J. C. Harmon High as a tool for promoting young wrestlers and exposing area novices to the sport. In the early 1990’s, Coach Hodges helped start and conduct what has quickly become one of the biggest and most popular all-star events in the Kansas City metro area. The Metro area Kansas – Missouri Dual held at Kansas City Community College, pits the best Kansas and Missouri senior wrestlers in the Kansas City Metro area in an interstate battle that is covered annually by Metro Sports. Proceeds from the dual go to a scholarship fund with the remaining funds going to Ft. Hays State’s and Central Missouri State’s wrestling programs.
Coach Hodges sums-up his career honorably and humbly with these words, “I am honored and grateful for this award. One of the greatest feelings in life is to see young men have success. The biggest thrill during my 30 years of coaching wrestling was watching my son, Aaron, who was a two-time undefeated State Champion. I have been very fortunate to have good assistant coaches, a very supportive wife and wrestlers who have worked very hard to make our wrestling program successful.”