Alfred University Athletics

Hyde is known as a consummate leader, excelling as a two-sport athlete and captain in his dominance of the soccer field as well as in the swimming pool. ‘Skip’ played the role of trailblazer for the swim program, sowing the seeds for its dominant run in the 80’s. After competing in the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships for the first time in 1981 in the 100-yard butterfly, he earned NCAA All-America honors in 1982 as part of the 400-yard medley relay team with Tim Schaeberle ‘85, Howard Seidman ‘84, and the late Tim Jaenecke ‘84, finishing 12th at the NCAA Championships. All four members of that relay team are now in the AU Athletics Hall of Fame. As a senior captain, Hyde led his team to an undefeated dual season and State and ICAC titles in 1982-83, the start of a record 29-dual meet winning streak.

On the soccer field, Hyde was a goal-scoring dynamo at midfield, earning All-Conference honors. Like his tenure in the pool, the team transformed, culminating in one of the finest soccer seasons in program history in 1982. That squad went 11-5-1, winning the ECAC Championship as the fourth seed. It began with a 2-1 road victory at Fredonia.Hyde and his teammates then traveled up to Plattsburgh State. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Hyde tallied two assists, including the overtime game-winner to Charlie Gilje in AU’s upset 2-1 victory against the top seed. Hyde has the rare distinction of leading two teams to postseason championships during his senior year. He broke several college records, all in the pool, breaking marks in the 200-IM, 100 and 200-butterfly, the 400 and 800 freestyle relays, as well as the aforementioned 400-medley relay.

Hyde graduated AU with a bachelor’s in general studies in 1983 and stayed for graduate school, eventually earning his MSEd in Coaching in 1987. He served as an assistant coach for both the men’s soccer as well as the swimming & diving programs. Hyde currently works in New York City, working with the Data Science Institute at Columbia University as the Assistant Director of Career Development and Alumni Services. He spent 12 years as the Dean and Executive Director of Career Services at New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). Hyde continues to be heavily involved in alumni engagement and mentorship with current Saxon swimmers and divers.

Said teammate and 2009 Hall of Famer Rob Lattimer ‘83: “I cannot think of a greater advocate for the University than Skip…He has a special gift to affect people in a way that is a positive experience. Skip’s athletic accomplishments stand alone as great achievements, but this is a small component of the impact he has had on AU and its community.”