2005

FILE PHOTO One of the highlights of the Brad Hodge era at East Central Community College was a state title in 2004.

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him," ECCC president Phil Sut– phin said of Hodge. "We wish him well as he moves to another level in his career. He's been here six years total ... he took what Sammy Pace had built from what Lucille Wood has done and moved it forward. "It's been a storied program for years and he's just a classy gu~,:'' Sutphin said. "He represented the college well." Sutphin said the move is "basi– cally going back home" for Hodge and his wife, Alida, who are bOth from the North Alabama area. "It's right near her family and mine," Hodge said. Hodge was 29-22 during his first two seasons in Decatur, but then went 31-4 during the 2003-04 cam-

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heads during the past t\\O seasons JOb ... I never wottld as the head \\Omen'.;; basketb~ have thought that coach at Ea.'i Central Community \.~ould have hap- College. d. I , · Nmv. Hodge \\ill get the opportu- pe11e . t s_JUSt one nity to do the same at a Division I of those tlungs that school. tht: good Lord has Hodge announced. early last 1>/cssed me with. week that he was leavmg ECCC to . ,r; . . taketheheaiwomen'sjobatBirm- 1m d

Brad Hodge

member of the Big South Confer-

Former ECCC ~Hlmt>rt's basketball! coach

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advantage of it. "

"It's a Division I head coaching job ... I never would have thought that would have happened," Hodge said. "It's just one of those things that the good Lord has blessed me with. I'm defmitely going to take

Hodge was SQ-36 in his four sea– sons as the head coach at ECCC after spending two years as an assistant to Sammy Pace. "I have very high regards for

'!'h is past • season, Hodge's bunch was 20-10 and made it to the Region 23 championship game. "The hardest thing I've ever been through was fac– ing the team and telling them " Hodge said. "It was ' . so emotional ... we're farru- lyhere. "I can't emphasize how importantEast Central has been to us," Hodge said. Prior to his arrival at EC. HrvlPP mached as a men's

Hodge

basketball assistant at the University of Louisiana– Monroe and Athens (Ala.) State College. Hodge will be taking O\'er a Lady Panthers pro– gram that went 13-15 last season. "We are thrilled to have • him... Birmmgham South– ern athletic director Joe Dean. J.r. said "He has hada lot of SU

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-lYleanwhile, Hodge's departure leaves ECCC looking for a head coach with just a few weeks remaininguntil the start of the 2005 fall semester. Sutphin said a search committee is in place, ECCC will advertise for its new coach, and he will make a recommendation for the position at the Aug. 9 board meeting.

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V paign. The Lady Warriors were the MACJC South S Division, State and NJ CAA Region 23 champi- 11 ons that year, setting a school record for wins and earning Hodge numerous Coach of the Year awards n?"\~ 'l,.n.,",..lnn fl"\. tho