VERMONT SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Photo Credit- Norwich Athletic Comm

Northfield/Norwich Univ.

Basketball

Inducted 2020

The winningest men’s basketball coach in Norwich history, Ed Hockenbury led the Cadets to their first two appearances in the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament, the first by a Vermont D-3 program. In 16 years at Norwich, he amassed 181 wins, bringing the program from a sub.-500 level to New England prominence. 

In an eight-year stretch starting in 1980-81, Hockenbury led Norwich to eight straight winning seasons going 128-63 (.670 winning percentage), including 21 wins in both 1983-84 and 1986-87 (21-5), advancing to the NCAAs both seasons. Hockenbury was named the New England Division III coach of the year in 1984 and coached several All-New England and All-American players while at Norwich. 

After leaving Norwich he was an assistant for Russ Reilly at Middlebury College and then was the head coach at Vermont Technical College, leading VTC to the NJCAA national tournament in his second season.

He came to Norwich after playing under former Boston Celtics great Bob Cousy at Boston College, and served as an assistant at Division I West Point, Georgetown and Villanova. He was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 and is also a member of both the Norwich (2003) and Boston College Athletics Hall of Fame (1996). His 1983-84 and 1986-87 teams were also inducted into the Norwich Athletic Hall of Fame. He also was recognized by the Vermont Basketball Coaches Association for his service to basketball in the state.

Dedicated to service of others before self in true Norwich fashion, Hockenbury mentored hundreds of student-athletes in numerous roles at the university and many other youths in Northfield. After a courageous two-year battle with cancer, Hockenbury passed away in 1996. 

Norwich hosts the highly successful Ed Hockenbury Basketball Classic- in both men’s and women’s hoops- annually since 1997 in his memory.