By TOM WILLIAMS

Basketball was a passion for Bob Hutchings. (Only his mother called him Bob, to everyone else he was Hutch.)

He played on one of the greatest Cape-Atlantic League teams of all-time – the 1968-69 Millville team that finished 26-1, won the South Jersey Group 4 championship, the last one in school history. Millville had won a couple times in the 1930s. That team suffered its only loss in the state final in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall to a Perth Amboy team led by future NBA player Brian Taylor.

Hutch scored over 1,000 points in college (Wheeling University), played overseas and, after joining the Army, ended up on the staff of Mike Krzyzewski at West Point. He returned to the area to coach at Bridgeton and Cumberland County College while traveling around the world to coach basketball.

Hutch, who died on Tuesday morning while recovering from a heart attack, eventually settled at Stockton University where he was an assistant coach for 26 years.

The best way to get a full picture of Hutch is to talk to his friends and co-workers.

Ed Salmon, the coach of that great Millville team: “Janet, please accept my deepest and sincere sympathy on the passing of your husband. May God’s Eternal Promise provide you, your sons and family inner peace and spiritual comfort. I had the good fortune to teach and coach Hutch from 8th grade through his graduation in 1969. He was captain of our varsity basketball team in both his junior and senior year. In his last two high school basketball seasons at MSHS to have a seat and watch the game you had to be at the gym by 5.30 pm for the 8 o’clock tipoff. Our prayers are with you, Janet, your two sons, Coach’s many, many friends and the thousands of lives Coach touched in Millville, Cumberland County, Stockton University and around the World. I know of no one who had achieved so much in a lifetime love of basketball and coaching young people. He is a basketball legend. Hutch will always have a special place in my heart.”

Paul Rodio, St. Augustine coach: “Hutch was a true Basketball legend. He was everywhere the game was being played. But what I feel about Hutch goes way beyond that. He was a GREAT Person. Someone I was proud to call my freind. I’m certain he is up there looking for talent right now. God bless, my friend. Rest well.

Tony Surace, retired Millville coach and athletics director: “Hutch was the classic basketball junkie. One of the captains on Coach Ed Salmon’s 26-1 team from ’68-’69 Hutch went on from college to beginning a coaching career with the legendary Coach K and ultimately end up as an assistant at Stockton. But not before traveling the globe as an ambassador for basketball. It was his life’s passion.”

Carlos LeBron, former player and current Bridgeton coach: “As a coach we impact so many lives and that was what this man has done for me and many others. Coach Hutchings made such impact on my life as a youngster and even into my adult life. The same kind of impact that I strive to give my athletes every day, because that was the way he taught us. Please keep his wife, Janet, his two boys, Ryan and Robert, in your prayers. And Coach, until the day that we see each other again, I will always cherish the long talks that we had on our way to Duke camp and all the laughs that we shared together. Love you, Coach, and rest in peace.”

Alan Shaw, leader of Millville’s great late 60s teams, now living in Thailand: “Hutch and I were very close. We played four years together at Millville High, were co-captains of the team our senior year, when the team finished the regular season undefeated and ranked number one in the state of New Jersey. Hutch and I had some sort of deep, inexplicable bond. One example: in high school, Coach Salmon had each player shoot a hundred free throws every day at the end of practice, then posted how many each player had made on a ‘foul shooting ladder’ on the wall in the gym. I was a pretty good free throw shooter, but neither me nor any of our teammates could ever beat Hutch. After we graduated, Hutch went off to Wheeling College and I went off to Duke. I got very lucky early in our sophomore season – made 46 out of my first 50 free throws and led the NCAA in free throw percentage for a couple of weeks. Feeling very proud, I cut a clipping out of the newspaper and sent it to Hutch. A week or so later, I got a letter and a clipping from Hutch. He was leading the NAIA (the small-college equivalent of the NCAA) in free throw shooting and had made 47 out of 50 free throws. I’ve always thought that was just too unlikely an event to be a mere coincidence. I loved Hutch, feel greatly saddened by his passing. May he rest in peace.” 

Gerry Mathews, retired Stockton mens coach: “I met Bob Hutchings in the late 70’s.  He was coaching Bridgeton High School at the time. I liked his demeanor on the sidelines and the way he talked to his players. Then I worked with him at the state all-star game. I felt he would be great addition to my staff and when I had  the opportunity I jumped at it. Later on he tried a couple of other opportunities, but when the chance to bring him back to Stockton I didn’t hesitate  to do that. I couldn’t tell you how many years he was with us. It just seems like forever. His loyalty, his warmth, and his dealings with the players made him invaluable. I always enjoyed coming back and seeing his familiar face. Stockton lost a great coach and I lost a great friend.”

Tim Gallagher, retired CAL basketball coach: “The basketball world – & I do mean world – is a bit lighter today with the passing of a true basketball lifer & legend. The great Bob Hutchings has passed, a true gentleman, friend & coach. Thoughts & prayers to his family. Thanks, Hutch, on behalf of basketball. RIP Bob Hutchings.”

Joe Fussner, retired Stockton women’s coach: “When I first met Hutch I was coaching the Atlantic City girls. He was at Bridgeton. From there we crossed paths throughout our careers. Hutch could have been a head coach of any program he desired. He was truly a guy who centered his world around basketball. At Stockton he was the men’s assistant. However, he always interacted with the women’s program. He would talk to our players and give them advice and encouragement. I often went to coaches clinics with him. He always wanted to learn. What was amazing with him was how he took notes. We all had a clip board with full sheets of paper. Hutch had this tiny notebook loaded with notes. I often asked him if he remembered a certain set or defense. He would whip out this notebook and say, ‘hold on, I’ll get it’. Thumbing through countless note pages, napkins, etc. he would always find what I wanted. Just an amazing person to be around, countless bus trips and the conversation was always positive and about basketball. There is no replacing Hutch. He truly was one of a kind. Condolences to his family.”

Steve DiPatri, Wildwood Catholic girls coach: “I was introduced to Hutch as a first year teacher at Bridgeton High School, we had cafeteria duty together and immediately connected. We had to chase a bat out of the cafeteria that year, talk about having to bond. Hutch immediately became a coaching mentor to me as I joined the girls hoops staff at Bridgeton. He was a mentor to many others, too, like Carlos LeBron and Kevin Nash. He helped me learn the art of live scouting and how to build programs – Bridgeton Track/Cross Country was top notch then and program building was key. Hutch was coaching cross country at Bridgeton and hoops at Stockton then in 93-94. We continued to be friends over the years – going to open NCAA practices in Philly and officiating track and cross country together. Hutch was a great official. He would routinely stay and watch our Sacred Heart girls practice when his son, Ryan, was in high school – he was a hoops junkie who would always want to talk the game. Coaching was a passion to Hutch, it was never a job.

John Leon, award-winning broadcaster and Stockton sports information officer: “Tough to say where to start. I’m in my 14th year at Stockton and Hutch was there for every one of them. He always had a joke or story to share and would make you laugh at some inopportune times. Sitting at the table doing stats, you could always hear Hutch bark out plays or get the guys to hit the boards a little harder, but he’d be the same guy to put an arm around one of the players to calm and motivate them. The team and school are much better having had Hutch as a member and he will be sorely missed.”

Scott Bittner, head mens coach at Stockton : “Hutch was the best. It is going to be hard to fill the void of all the roles he had in my life – he was a father figure, a brother, a colleague, a mentor and, most of all, a friend. He was the perfect assistant and nobody understood that role better.  He would quietly do his work constantly with our players and being a perfect complement to the passionate personalities that Coach Matthews and myself sometimes share our team.  He would pick up the pieces and make sure every kid went home in the right state of mind. Going to miss Hutch dearly.”

Bob Hutchings was 72.