OBITUARY: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Football Coach Gerald Hodgin Passes Away Peacefully at 82

5 RINGS: key contributor with dynasty programs Merritt Island in 1970s and Cocoa in 2000s

WATCH: 2020 Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame inductee Coach Gerald Hodgin won five prep football state title rings during a 50-year career in Brevard County. The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame and beloved Brevard County high school football coach passed away after an eight month battle following a brain bleed at age 82.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame and beloved Brevard County high school football coach Gerald Hodgin passed away after an eight month battle following a brain bleed at age 82.

Coach Hodgin’s son Chris said his father died peacefully, “and is with the Lord five months before his 83rd birthday.”

“His dedication, accomplishments and outreach to Merritt Islands youth through football/sports was life changing for countless kids and people throughout his life,” said Chris about his Dad.

“He was hard as iron but it was tempered with love and dedication for his friends and family. He was the best football coach I ever knew, he was my hunting/fishing buddy our whole life as well as a trusted friend and fierce ally and I will miss him terribly until we meet again. Sleep well dad…l LOVE YOU!!!” said Chris Hodgin.

The world’s attention was riveted on Brevard County when the Hodgin family first arrived in 1969 to check out a job opening for a football coaching and teaching job at Merritt Island High School.

During Hodgin’s first year at Merritt Island in 1969 he was the JV football coach, and in 1970, became the offensive line coach for Feeley’s powerhouse varsity squad.

The rest, as they say, is history as the Mustangs racked-up state championships in 1972, 1978 and 1979 – with Hodgin leading the defense as the coordinator.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and players that had been impacted by the great Coach Gerald “Hodge” Hodgin,” said a Merritt Island High School spokesperson.

“The Island lost a special and impactful man and his legacy will undoubtedly continue to ring in the ears of all those who have and will play football for the mighty MI Mustangs.”

Hodgin was born in Meridian, Mississippi in 1942, and graduated from Butler High School in Huntsville, Alabama where he played linebacker and guard on the football team and was on the track and field team.

Hodgin then attended Middle Tennesee State on a football scholarship. During his freshman year, he suffered a serious knee injury that ended his playing career.

He then attended Florence State, now the University of North Alabama, where he graduated in 1963.

Hodgin began teaching and coaching football, basketball, track and golf at Cullman High School in Alabama in 1964.

After a year at Cullman, Hodgin and his wife, Elke, moved on to Boaz High School for three years and then to New Hope High School for another three years.

The world’s attention was riveted on Brevard County when the Hodgin family first arrived in 1969 to check out a job opening for a football coaching and teaching job at Merritt Island High School.

“When we got to Merritt Island for the first time to meet coach (Eddie) Feeley, we didn’t have enough money to stay in a hotel and parked by the Indian River for the night,” said Elke.

“During the night, Gerald decided to fish off the bank and caught a huge bass and said, ‘Honey I think we’re home!’”

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STRONG BOND

During Hodgin’s first year at Merritt Island in 1969 he was the JV football coach, and in 1970, became the offensive line coach for Feeley’s powerhouse varsity squad.

The rest, as they say, is history as the Mustangs racked-up state championships in 1972, 1978 and 1979 – with Hodgin leading the defense as the coordinator.

Hodgin said among the highlights for him was spending Sundays with fellow coaches Eddie Feeley, Gerald Odom, Lee Mace, Dwight Thomas, Travis Akin, Joe Pribil and Jim Casper going over game plans – along with all the special life long bonds he has made with his adoring players.

“I first met coach Hodgin during my sophomore year at Merritt Island,” said Jimmy Black, quarterback of the 1972 state champion Mustangs and Florida State standout.

“He was the head coach of the JV team and one of the first things you learned about coach was when he told you to do something you had better do it now! Discipline was very important to him and he passed this along to his players. The bond the players had with all our coaches still is strong to this day, almost 50 years later. I would like to thank coach Hodgin for the valuable life lessons he taught me in high school and am proud to call him my friend.”

When Gerald Odom became the head coach at Cocoa High School in 2000 Hodgin joined his staff as the defensive coordinator and stayed on when John Wilkinson took over in 2004 – and picked up two more state title rings in the process.

During his career, Hodgin also coached the Mustang baseball team for 12 seasons, recording 263 victories, five conference titles, four district championships, three regional titles, one sectional crown and a state appearance.

“Hodge put his life and soul into whatever he coached,” said former Merritt Island High School principal Hank Smith.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME, call 321-323-4460 or 321-615-8111 or e-mail Contact@SpaceCoastDaily.com.

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