Baltimore, Maryland--September 6, 2002--Neville Hodge of Edgewood, head coach of Morgan State University's track and field team, will be inducted into the Morgan State Athletic Hall of Fame Oct. 5 at the Forum Banquet in Baltimore.
     Hodge is a three-time Olympian.  Hodge has been the man in charge of Morgan State track since the spring of 1994.  The Morgan State University graduate, class of 1980, was a world class sprinter while he was a collegian at MSU.  His drive and determination as a sprinter have translated to how he approaches his duties as head coach.  Hodge constantly challenges himself and his athletes to excel both on the track and in the classroom.
     Hodge brings extensive international coaching credentials to his job a MSU.  He coached the Virgin Islands National Team at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain,  the 1996 games in Atlanta, Ga. as well as the 2000 games in Sydney.  His coaching career started while he was a student at Morgan.  Coach Hodge worked with sprinters a Catonsville Community College.  His first head coaching opportunity cane in 1986 at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
     On the track, Hodge was an exceptional talent.  Although he's participated in every sprint event, he'll tell you his true love is the 200 meters.  He once ran the 200m in a blazing 20.43 at a meet in Mexico City in 1979.
     After a successful tenure at UMES, Hodge was offered the head coaching position at Morgan State University in 1994.
     The hard working Virgin Islands native wasted no time in making an immediate impact, as he won MEAC "Coach of the Year" twice in 1992 and 1994.
     Just a few months later, his team missed winning the outdoor title by one half of a point.  Hodge inspires to build the Morgan State track and field program to a prominent force in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and beyond.
     Hodge lives in Edgewood, Maryland and is married to Sharon Shanell.  He has three children, Neville Jr., Ashlyn Shanell and London Hodge.
    Hodge is now the world record holder for the 100 meters for 45 year old men. He is now preparing for the World Master's Championships which will be held in Carolina, Puerto Rico next summer.  He hopes to break his world record in that meet.

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