Syracuse Remembers Coaching Icon Walt Dodge

For 33 years, Walt Dodge was a member of the Syracuse University men's gymnastics program, first as a student-athlete and then as a coach. Dodge passed away on October 2, 2024.

Born in Watertown, New York, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dodge was the captain of the Germantown High School gymnastics team and also excelled in track and field. He took his talents to Syracuse University, where he was elected captain of the 'Cuse gymnastics team and voted Most Outstanding Gymnast in both 1959 and 1960. In 1961, he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education and his Master's degree in education from SU in 1967.

Dodge served as an assistant coach for the Orange from 1962-79. He was appointed head coach following the 1979 season. Syracuse posted winning records for the next five seasons and Dodge was named the 1984 NCAA East District Coach of the Year. In 1995, he recorded his 100th career victory, becoming the winningest coach in men's gymnastics history at Syracuse. In 19 years as head coach Dodge directed the Orange to a 113-77 record. In 1996, Syracuse finished with a 6-0 dual meet record, marking the first time since the 1962-63 season that SU had gone undefeated during the dual meet season.

In 2003, Dodge received the Honor Coach Award at the Tournament Awards Banquet prior to the NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship at Temple University.

Dodge's dedication to the sport was not limited to Syracuse University. He was instrumental in the development of gymnastics clubs in the Syracuse area, and served as the president and technical director of the local gymnastics judging association.

A nationally-ranked gymnastics judge, Dodge officiated at the Pan American Games and at NCAA, USGF and Eastern championships. He was gymnastics co-host for the 1981 National Sports Festival and was the gymnastics chair for the Empire State Games. During the summer of 1987, Dodge was meet director for gymnastics competition at the AAU/USA Junior Olympic Games held in Syracuse.

Dodge was a physical education teacher at Jamesville-DeWitt and a substitute teacher for another 20 years after his retirement. He coached Jamesville-Dewitt High School gymnastics before coming taking over as head coach at Syracuse in 1979.

He is survived by his wife, Bethyl, two sons, his grandchildren and five great grandchildren and one brother.

Syracuse University Athletics

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