Hall of Fame
Hop Riopel will forever be known as "Mr. Holy Cross" for his years of dedicated service to the college.
He was a three-sport standout at Holy Cross, earning an amazing 11 varsity letters as a Crusader. The baseball team won 100 games during his four years, while the football team posted a 25-10-1 mark. He was a key player the Crusaders' upset of Syracuse on the gridiron in 1920, and his game-saving catch helped snap Boston College's 23-game baseball winning streak in 1923.
After graduating in 1924, Riopel turned down professional baseball offers to accept a teaching and coaching position at Milford High. He served as basketball coach at Assumption College from 1928-1932 and returned to his alma mater in 1933 as freshman baseball, basketball and football coach.
He spent four years (1934-1935, 1942-1945) as the head coach of the men's basketball team, and spent 27 years as a Crusader assistant football coach (1933-1937, 1939, 1941 and 1944-1963).
Riopel was was named athletic director at the college and was inducted in the Varisty Club Hall of Fame in 1957. He retired as athletic director on June 30, 1966, and died less than three months later.
