Olivet Nazarene University

Although winning isn't everything to Hodge and his staff, it's important. Preparation is the key to getting better, which is exactly Hodge's emphasis.

"Practice is the most important time for us," Hodge said. "I love practice. It is a time to improve both individually and collectively as a team. Practice has to be challenging, but also flexible. It is the most important time of the week."

During practices, the Tiger coaching staff works with the players individually and by position. There are also many 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 drills.

It is much different from when Hodge was a player, as teams did more running and scrimmaging. Repetition is a big key.

"Players need confidence to make the plays," coach Hodge said. "That does not come from pep talks from the coaching staff or encouraging words from peers or parents. It comes from being able to make the play."

This philosophy has enabled Hodge to win championships while developing champions.

Thirty one years ago, Frank Wilson finished his third season as the head coach of the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers. Wilson had guided the Tigers to a 17-11 record — the team's third winning season in as many years.

Instead of attempting for a fourth straight winning season, Wilson left Olivet and headed south to take over the men's program at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn.

Olivet's director of athletics, C.W. "Butch" Ward, knew of a former player who had been an assistant for the Tigers and spent three seasons at Alwood High School.

Ward put in a call, and hired the next men's coach of Olivet Nazarene University: Ralph Hodge.

In coach Hodge's first season, the Tigers finished 15-13, and followed that up with a 20-9 season in 1980-81. Those two seasons began what would become a tradition at Olivet.

Hodge, who has played or coached in more than 1,160 of ONU’s 1360 basketball games, has amassed more than 600 wins, a very worthy achievement.

His teams had won 20 or more games in 15 consecutive seasons, a streak that was snapped in the 2003-04 season. The Tigers have also won 13 conference championships (in two different leagues), made 13 NAIA National Tournament appearances, earned four NAIA Elite Eight appearances and made one NAIA Final Four appearance during Hodge's tenure.

When asked about his past successes, Hodge responded, "I have had a great time as a player at Olivet, but that is in the past, and I would rather focus on the now."

Hodge continued, "Certainly, it is good to remember the past, and from time to time we do, but there is so much to do now in order to continue our tradition."

This sounds like a man that feels there is plenty of work to do in today's Tiger basketball program. Simply put, Hodge has little time these days to reminisce.

But don't mistake Hodge's desire to concentrate on the present as an ungrateful heart for the past. He fondly recalls those early days.

"I was fortunate to grow up in a caring Christian family," Hodge said. "I have been guided daily by the prayers of a loving mother, and my dad encouraged me in endless ways, especially in athletics. Many people have influenced my life, but none more than coach Ward. He gave me both the opportunity to play and coach here, and has been a source of encouragement and support all the way."

Hodge was quick to add, "You can talk about us coaches all you want, but the real story of Tiger basketball is the players. They are the real heroes of this program."

One of the largest tasks that occupies Hodge's time these days is finding more of those players to carry on ONU's winning tradition.

"It's pretty simple," Hodge said. "We are looking for the student-athlete who desires to be a part of a thriving Christian university — one who realizes that basketball is a means to an end, not an end in itself."

The Tiger coaching staff has been fairly successful in its search for these types of players. In Hodge's 31 seasons as ONU's head coach, every four-year player but one has graduated.

"The only thing we expect out of a player is that he is willing to work hard," Hodge explained. "That willingness is not just in the area of basketball, but in the classroom and in how he represents Olivet. I love this school for a lot of different reasons. I will not sacrifice the school's reputation or the education of one of my players just for the sake of winning."