Winner. That is the one word that aptly describes this legendary football coach. Over the course of a 27-year career at Rome Free Academy, Thomas Hoke compiled an astounding record of 210-41-4, for an eye-popping winning percentage of .824. To the non-statistical type, this means he won almost 83% of the games he coached. 83%! That 83% winning percentage ranks second all-time among Section III football coaches. Hall of Fame worthy for sure!

Hoke began coaching at Whitesboro Central Schools in the late 1960s. There he led the junior varsity football and baseball teams. Then, in 1969, he began teaching at RFA and took over the head coaching position of the junior varsity team. Five years later, Hoke was promoted to varsity coach and there he remained for the rest of his scholastic sports career.

Over the nearly three decades he spent on the sidelines, Hoke won 19 League Titles (9 in the Central Oneida League, 5 in the National Conference Class AA, and 5 in the Class AA Conference), eight Section III Championships, two New York State Regional Titles, one New York State Western Regional Title, and, in 1981, the New York State Championship as voted on by the New York State Sports Writers Association. Throughout his career, his teams were ranked 19 out of 25 years in the Top 25 of New York State, made 22 consecutive Section III playoff appearances, and played in the Section III Finals in 13 out of 27 years.

In 1981, Hoke was named the New York State Coach of the Year and in 1984 received the New York State Coaches Association Honor Award. In addition to his RFA position, he coached in several John Arcaro Classic All-Star Games, founded the RFA Touchdown Club (1981) and was elected to the Rome Sports Hall of Fame. In 2010, RFA renamed is football field “Tom Hoke Field” in honor of the storied accomplishments made by the Black Knights under Hoke's leadership.

Besides coaching football, Hoke, a University of Buffalo graduate, coached Modified Boys Track (30 years), Modified Boys Basketball (20 years) and Varsity Girls Basketball (10 years) where his record was 165-56. He was a High School Basketball official for 27 years, named the 1990 Official of the Year, and refereed at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Basketball Finals in both 1978 and 1986. He also served on the Section III Football Committee for 20+ years.