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Sports

Wantagh Track and Cross Country Coach to Retire

Bill Hedgecock holds all-time record in New York State for wins in two sports coaching for the Warriors and previously at Lynbrook High School.

Bill Hedgecock, a longtime cross country and track coach at who previously served in the same capacity at Lynbrook High School, is set to retire from his duties.

Hedgecock has been idolized by many of his friends, family, colleagues and student-athletes not only for his amazing accomplishments serving as a coach, but as an inspirational figure to both the Wantagh and Lynbrook communities.

Hedgecock began his teaching and coaching career back in 1969 at Lynbrook. His first season was an undefeated one, something that would develop into a very common trend. In 1981, while still teaching at Lynbrook, he left coaching at the school to coach the same teams at Wantagh, largely in part to get the opportunity to coach his son, Michael, and daughter, Jean.

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While at Wantagh, he helped his kinsfolk achieve success that many runners dream of. Michael won a national title in the Steeplechase event and was a member of the 1986 state cross-country championship team. Starting on the varsity squad as a seventh grader, he was part of his father's team that won six consecutive Nassau County crowns, still a record to this day.

Jean served as one of Wantagh most diverse athletes, competing in multiple running, hurdling and pentathlon events. She, too, was a member of several county and conference championships under her father. The coaching relationship between Bill and his children only helped the bond between them, as well as with his wife Pat, who has always been by their sides to extend continuous support along the way.

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The coaching statistics Hedgecock has built up in 43 years — although it's just one factor that defines him — are staggering, to say the least. He holds the most wins in New York State history in both cross-country and track, with 819 and 388, respectively, over 93 combined seasons.

As both the boys and girls coaches for each program at Lynbrook and Wantagh, Hedgecock led his teams to 50 undefeated seasons, numerous conference championships, 37 Nassau County titles, and two New York State cross-country titles. The first was with the aforementioned 1986 Wantagh boys team and the second was in 1992 with the Wantagh girls team.

"He has never taken any credit for his incredible coaching record and always will give all of the credit to the kids," said Eddie Reilly, former Lynbrook runner under Hedgecock, as well as his successor at the school after Reilly's departure for Wantagh. "While one of the most competitive coaches ever, he is certainly the most humble."

Many runners who competed for Hedgecock at both Lynbrook and Wantagh can easily account for the impact he had on their lives as high school teens and even after graduation. He defined his coaching career by following ideals such as integrity, sportsmanship and building personal relationships with fellow coaches and athletes.

“Bill not only changed my life, but saved it,” added Reilly. “Outside of my parents, he is the most influential and positive role model I have had in my life. He is a special man, who never takes or looks for the credit.”

On Saturday, June 4, 2011, at 4 p.m., many of those people who have been impacted by Hedgecock will be in attendance at a surprise retirement party being held in the Wantagh High School cafeteria (Hedgecock is currently not in the area).

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