by Dawn Kane | Oct 14, 2024
Brian started teaching Physical Education and coaching the Boys’ Varsity volleyball team at Hamburg in 1996, after graduating with honors from SUNY Cortland with a degree in Physical Education and Sports Medicine/Athletic Training.
Coach Carroll’s ascension as Hamburg Varsity Volleyball Coach happening quickly, as the team’s first breakthrough took place when Hamburg won its first ever Sweet Home Tournament in 1998. This laid the foundation for the 2000 team, which won Hamburg’s first ECIC Division Championship in over 20 years, paving the way for the 2004 and 2005 teams that went on to new heights winning 4 out of 5 local tournaments, ECIC, Section VI, Intersectional, and finally back-to-back NY State titles over McQuaid Jesuit. En route to the State Tournament, the 2004 Section VI Final win was a victory over West Seneca West, captained by 4-time Olympian Matt Anderson. In the 2005 Section VI final, Hamburg was up against an Orchard Park team that was stacked with three Division I collegiate players, and Hamburg playing with a completely revamped lineup after graduating 5 seniors from the 2004 team. Every year after 2004 and 2005, Coach Carroll’s teams were always in conversation as a potential winner for the state title. The Bulldog brand was respected statewide. In 2009 Hamburg won the ECIC and Section VI tournaments, and finished 2nd (26-5) in NYS, dropping in 5 sets in the finals. Then in 2013 Caroll’s Bulldogs won 4 of 5 local tournaments, ECIC Division, and the Section VI tournament, but fell to Victor, the eventual NYS Champion. The 2014 team won 4 of 5 local tournaments, the ECIC Division, and Section VI as well, but dropped extremely close matches in Far West Regionals to (again) the eventual state Champion, Victor.
One of Coach Carroll’s biggest highlights was starting a small “mom and pop” style volleyball club; Southtowns Volleyball Club, where he was involved with every player in his program (HMS/HHS and the USA Volleyball club) from the time they started in 7th grade all the way through graduation. They played in tournaments up and down the East Coast and sometimes traveled to USA Volleyball Nationals if his club team won a “Bid to Nationals”.
Coach Carroll stepped down from coaching after the 2018 season. During his tenure as the Boys’ Varsity Volleyball coach, his teams won numerous ECIC Division I and II Championships, 6-Section VI Titles, 2- New York State Championships, and 1-NYS runner up, and he was named Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2009 and the Joe Gillespie friend of WNY Volleyball 4 times in his coaching tenure.
Brian settled down in 2012 with his wife Mary, and they have four children Mary, Patricia, Brian, and Evelyn.
by Dawn Kane | Oct 5, 2023
Bill Malican was a Special Education teacher at Hamburg High School for more than 30 years and a coach for 48 years! Malican served as Head Coach for the modified swim team (15 years), Assistant Coach for the Girls Varsity Swim Team (4 years), 3 of which are already on the Wall of Fame, Head Coach for the Girls Varsity Cross Country Team (32 years), Head Coach for the Boys/Girls Indoor Track Teams (34 years), and Head Coach for the Girls Varsity Track Team (45 years), after starting the Girls Track program at Hamburg in 1976.
Under Coach Malican’s leadership, the Girls Track Teams were Divisional Champions 17 times, the Boys and Girls Indoor Track Teams were Sectional Champions 6 times, the Cross Country Team was Class B1 Champion, there were more than 22 Cross Country ECIC All-Stars during his coaching career, and 18 State Meet competitors. Bill coached 30+ State Meet medal winners and 3 State Meet champions during his career.
Bill was also known for his leadership in the Western New York area, serving as the Director for 25 ECIC Championship Meets beginning in 1990, 17 of them held at Hamburg. He also hosted and directed six Section VI Championship Meets, events that drew athletes, coaches and track officials from the entire Section VI territory of Western New York. Bill was named Track and Field Coach of the Year 5 times.
Bill also hosted and ran the Williams Rodiek Relays for 38 of the 52 years the relays have been in existence. Considered the “oldest invitational in Western New York,” there is strong consensus among area coaches that that was the best locally contested meet.
Malican was well-respected among his peers. Wall of Fame honoree and fellow coach, Wayne Rose said, “I have witnessed the spirit and compassion of Coach Malican. It is evident that two of his greatest qualities are the love and passion for coaching young men and women … [and] their achievements are the result of his dedication, concern and caring for them, each an individual in the own special way.”
According to Malican, “The most important things for me were the weddings, funerals, next generation and the common bonds my kids developed. I have been blessed to have this opportunity to teach and coach for 48 years. It has been a great pleasure to coach in Hamburg. It has been an honor.”
by Dawn Kane | Nov 4, 2022
Everyone who has ever met Coach Evans, has always said he is one of the most affable, kind, and nicest guys you will ever meet. He’s such an unassuming guy, that when he first learned that he was going to be inducted into the Sports Wall of Fame, he flatly turned down the invitation. Coach Evans has always said, “it’s about the kids and not about me”. But when he heard that two of his former swimmers had nominated him for induction, did he didn’t want to let them down and finally agreed to the induction. That sums up Coach Evans!
Dave grew up in West Seneca, graduating from West, and then went to SUNY-Cortland where he swam for the Red Dragons. After graduating, Evans became a Hamburg teacher and started coaching the girls swimming team in 1977. In 1979, Dave was named head coach of the first Boys varsity lacrosse team, when it was first recognized as school sport, coaching for 6 seasons. During his swim coaching career, Dave won 4 sectionals, 6 conference, and 11 divisional championships. He compiled an overall W-L record of W: 223 L: 57. Evans was named Super 7 and ECIC Boys swim coach of the year in 1988 and named Super 7 Girls swim coach of the year for three consecutive years: 1985-1987, which was during this incredible run of the girl’s swim program where his teams went on a remarkable 54 consecutive meet win run, that helped get this group of swimmers inducted as the Teams of Distinction in 2013.
Dave stopped coaching the girl’s program in 1987, only to come back and coach again from 2007-2015. Dave finally retired from teaching and coaching and lives an active retirement with his wife of 43 years, Janet and he has three grown Hamburg graduate children: Laura, Dan, and Jessica.
by Linsey | Jul 24, 2019
Coach Beach began his teaching and coaching career at Hamburg in 1969 as the Varsity Boy’s Volleyball coach. Two years later he switched to the sport he had played through high school and college, when he became the assistant J.V. football coach under Fred Milliman. In college, Bob fell in love with gymnastics, and was mentored further by Dick Hover, who encouraged him to start the Hamburg High School Gymnastics program which he coached from 1970-2012. When the gymnastics season switched from winter to fall, he chose to give up football and continue with gymnastics. During his career, Bob also coached modified wrestling under Wall of Fame coach Paul Witman. In the early years, Coach Beach also coached gymnastics for the Town Recreation Program and at Southtown’s Gymnastics Club. When Southtown’s Gymnastics closed, Bob took the Girl’s Assistant Track coach position under Bill Malican, and soon after gave up wrestling, to become the Assistant Indoor Track coach also under Bill Malican. In 1993, Bob became the Boys Head Track coach, where along with Bill (the girl’s head coach) they developed a cooperative system of more effectively utilizing all staff by having them specialize in the field events. Along the way there were numerous team championships, and eight times athletes he coached were crowned State Champions. Coach Beach also served as the Section VI Gymnastics Chairperson, and as the ECIC Boys Track Chairperson.
by Linsey | Jul 24, 2019
Coach Orr graduated from Clarence High School in 1955 and Allegheny College in 1969. After teaching one year in the Cleveland, Ohio Public Schools, he began his teaching career at Hamburg in 1970. From 1971 to 1978, Orr coached 9th grade basketball. For the next 18 years, from 1979 to 1995, he coached the Varsity basketball team at Hamburg. During that time, the Bulldogs won 4 Division Championships and finished second eight times, reaching the Sectional Finals four times, including two losses to the eventual state champions. His Varsity win-loss record was 218-138. Orr also was named the first ever Hamburg Varsity golf coach and held that position for 15 years from 1974 to1988. He stepped down from coaching Varsity basketball in 1995, but remained in the Hamburg basketball program for another five years, coaching both the Modified and JV teams. His overall record in 531 games coached was 349-182. Orr also served as ECIC Basketball Chairman from 1989 to 1992. In 2002, Coach Orr retired from teaching and coaching in the Hamburg Schools after 32 years. He went on to work for local athletic apparel and footwear company, Ad Pro Sports for 11 years.
