A native of New Hartford, Walt Hameline is one of America's most successful Division III football coaches.

Hameline starred in three sports at New Hartford Central and graduated in 1970. He went on to become an outstanding defensive back at SUNY Brockport. He received his bachelor's degree from Brockport in 1975 and received a master's degree from SUNY Albany in 1977.

He became head coach at Wagner College, Staten Island, in 1981 at the age of 29, forging a 9-1 record in his first season. Wagner College won the national championship in 1987 with an upset of the University of Dayton in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

His teams have twice won the Lambert Trophy, which goes to the best Division III team in the East. Along the way, Hameline has recruited many Utica and Rome-area players for his teams.

In 1985, Hameline became athletic director at Wagner while still coaching football. 

In recent years, he has faced the formidable challenge of upgrading Wagner from a Division III to a Division I sports program. 

His football team in 1997 fashioned a 6-4 record against I-AA opponents.