Alex Hodge, our 43-year old director of football video and a beloved member of the Sun Devil Athletics family, passed away on Friday (Oct. 20) while resting in hospice with his parents by his side after battling cancer since last spring.
Immensely respected by his colleagues and admired by the many who he taught his craft to over the years, in 2019 Hodge was named the 2018-19 Pac-12 Conference Video Coordinator of the Year by the Collegiate Sports Video Association. Hodge was selected to receive the honor by his Pac-12 peers and he would go on to be a finalist for the prestigious Bob Matley National Video Coordinator of the Year award, presented annually to the video coordinator who displays innovation, determination, perseverance, and technical skill as portrayed by the late Matey, legendary video coordinator from Texas A&M.
'He was a really good man' ~ @Jclark21_
— Yogi Roth (@YogiRoth) November 15, 2023
So grateful to have met @asuvideoAlex - his spirit & presence allowed everyone who met him to become a better version of themselves. We miss you Alex, so greatly.https://t.co/1IuihSzVGK@ASUFootball @KennyDillingham @DougTammaro
Hodge's remarkable career spanned 25 years, with more than 11 of those years coming at ASU after being appointed to his position in 2012 by former Arizona State head football coach Todd Graham. In his time with SDA, Hodge was responsible for managing the football video department, which consisted of providing daily video and technical support to the football coaches and staff, overseeing the acquisition of practice and game video for player evaluation and various other projects that would evolve over the years.
Was a great man and a great sun devil. #SunDevil4Ever https://t.co/aIwbTAF1xy
— Coach Dillingham (@KennyDillingham) October 22, 2023
Hodge was reunited at ASU with longtime colleague and current ASU football coordinator Dan Wayne. Together, they established ASU's football video department into one of the most well-respected units in the country. The two were responsible for the design of the state-of-the-art video lab in the Carson Student Athlete Center, which includes a 60-station XOS digital network.
RIP Hodge, you will truly be missed. I'm heartbroken but know you are in a better place with no more pain. ?? https://t.co/r6o7U9RVWt
— Joe Connolly (@Coach_Joe28) October 22, 2023
Hodge began his video career at Illinois State University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications in 2003. A native of Hoopeston, Ill., Hodge learned and studied videography under mentor and longtime local media instructor Dan Reed.
After graduation, Hodge joined the University of Wisconsin athletic department in 2003 as an assistant video coordinator, a role he would hold for three years before being named video coordinator at Rice University in 2006. It was at Rice where Hodge encountered Graham, who was head coach of the Owls at the time. Hodge went on to join Graham at the University of Tulsa in 2007, where he helped many of the department's sports transition into the era of digital video exchange.
In the midst of a weekend full of high points, this was some tough news. Alex was essential to the efforts of back-in-the-saddle SID attempting to draw attention to the amazing season that Jarett Dillard was putting together in 2006. RIP. https://t.co/mL28FpV08U
— Chuck Pool (@capooljr) October 23, 2023
A member of the Collegiate Sports Video Association since 2000, Hodge would go on to follow Graham to the University of Pittsburgh and ASU, where he would serve the remainder of his career.
Services information will be posted and updated when finalized.
Thoughts and prayers to the Hodge family ??
— Jason Mohns ?? ?? (@CoachMohns) October 22, 2023
Devastated to learn we lost Alex Hodge (longtime ASU Football Video Coordinator). Thanks @TimHealeyASU honoring on air tonight. Alex was one of the best Sun Devils. @ ASU since 2012, 2018-19 Pac-12 Video Coordinator of the Year. RIP @asuvideoAlex ??https://t.co/LzSOwFlixW ??: FB https://t.co/MmqIfWpSJv pic.twitter.com/G5lQNx4sZv
— Andrew Taylor (@andrewtaylor09) October 22, 2023