Arrigoni Hall of Fame
Br. John P. Doyle served as head track coach for ten seasons (1975-1985) and as an assistant coach for seven (1960-1967). Doyle was honored by the IC4A Coaches Association for his 25 years of service to the sport. He rebuilt the track program into a national power and will always be remembered by his athletes as a caring, warm-hearted individual.
Born in New York in 1925, Doyle attended Rice High School before graduating from St. Joseph’s in 1943. He joined the Brotherhood in ’41 and received his B.S. in Education from Fordham in 1951. Doyle went on to get his Master’s from St. John’s in 1960.
Under Doyle, the track team produced its first national champion (Hall of Famer, Bill Martin ’80), six NCAA Division I All-Americans, and two cross-country teams that finished in the top twenty. His freshman team won the IC4A cross-country championship in 1963 and the varsity two mile relay team was the best in the country in 64-65 season. The 4 x 1500 meter relay team at one point ran the fourth best time ever.
The athletic kudos go on and on for Doyle-coached teams, but perhaps his greatest asset was the way he influenced his athletes. He treated each individual as if he were the most important athlete in the world.
Br. John Doyle’s contributions to the track program are numerous, but he will always be remembered for his personal warmth and concern that he displayed toward his athletes.
