Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame
WALTER “BRICK” STONE
Walter “Brick” Stone, a longtime coach and administrator, served Hofstra University from 1946 through 1978. He was a founder of the wrestling program and helped the sport grow on Long Island. Walter coached the wrestling, cross country, and track and field teams at Hofstra, posting a 77-53-10 record in 13 seasons with the wrestling team (1947-60). He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005.
Walter was hired by Hofstra University shortly after his discharge from the U.S. Navy. Named head track coach and athletic trainer, he was also charged with the creation of the wrestling program despite having no previous experience with the sport. Beginning competition in the 1947-48 season, Walter led the team to a 4-0-2 season and saw two wrestlers qualify for the National Tournament in Francis Fusco and Phil Gunthner.
Following a 6-4 mark in 1948-49, Walter coached the team to records of 7-1, 10-1 and 10-2-1 over the next three seasons. The 1950-51 squad produced eight NCAA Championship participants, which ranked as a school record until the 2004-05 team sent nine wrestlers to the NCAA’s. In 1956 Hofstra produced the first seeded wrestler in program history as Peter Damone earned the sixth-seed at 167 pounds.
Walter stepped down as head coach following the 1960 season and held other positions at Hofstra until his retirement in 1978.
A Long Island native, Walter was a track star at Lynbrook High School and was the AAU Junior Steeplechase champion in 1937. He went on to run track at the University of Michigan for three years and also played football, where he was a teammate of former President Gerald Ford.
