East Central coach guides team to best season ever

By By Marty Stamper/EMG sports assistant
March 13, 2004
DECATUR Brad Hodge's third year as head women's basketball coach at East Central Community College has been one of absolute pleasure and one that has set a high standard for future Lady Warrior teams to live up to.
After going 14-11 and 15-11 in his first two seasons as head coach at ECCC, Hodge has led the 2003-04 team to a 29-2 record heading into the NJCAA Division I Women's National Basketball Championship Tournament next week at Salina, Kan.
The 29 wins set a school record and the current team is the first at ECCC to win both MACJC state and Region 23 Tournaments in the same year.
Hodge came to ECCC after serving as an assistant men's coach at Northeast Louisiana University (now UL-Monroe). NLU qualified for the Southland Conference Tournament both of his seasons there.
In fact, Hodge may be one of former ECCC men's basketball coach Jay Bowen's greatest contributions to the school.
Hodge deflects much of the credit away from himself for this year's success.
Most of his roster came from successful high school programs.
Hodge also served as assistant men's coach at Athens State College. In his two years there, Athens won 38 games and reached the Southern District semifinals both years.
Hodge graduated from Russellville (Ala.) High School, received a bachelor's degree at Athens State, attended the University of Alabama-Huntsville, and completed his master's degree at UL-Monroe.
Hodge is married to the former Alida Jones of Decatur, Ala. She is a counselor and assistant fast-pitch softball coach at Neshoba Central High School.