Hall of Fame
Al Doyle, who has directly influenced the continuing growth in high school athletics since 1957, began his professional career in 1950 as a teacher at Oxford Academy and Central School. There, he quickly moved up the ranks to hold a number of posts including district athletic director, as well as head coach of Oxford Academy’s football, baseball, basketball, and track and field programs.
Mr. Doyle became a member of the NYSPHSAA in 1956 where he served on the football committee for the next nine years. In 1967, he was appointed State Chairman of the NYSPHSAA Football Committee until 1971, and from then until 1975, he served as a NYSPHSAA Field Representative where he approved plans and facilities for state championships.
In 1975, Mr. Doyle became the NYSPHSAA’s first ever Executive Director. In this capacity, he was involved in a number of changes including resurrecting the boys basketball state tournament, helping establish numerous other state tournaments and helping expand the NYSPHSAA governing board to include a representative of girls athletics from each of the 11 sections. During his 15 years as Executive Director, Mr. Doyle drafted and presented the “bordering states” portion of the National Federation sanction procedures which was adopted in 1979 and currently part of the NFHS Sanctioning Program.
He was the first individual east of the Mississippi to be elected the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) President (1982-1983) as well as New York State Federation of Secondary School Athletic Associations President (1981-1983) and a member of the Empire State Games Advisory Committee in 1976.
In 1990, Mr. Doyle stepped down as Executive Director but has continued to serve the NYSPHSAA as a member of the Past Presidents’ Committee.
Mr. Doyle was inducted into the Elmira New York Sports Hall of Fame in 1987, the NYSPHSAA Section IV Hall of Fame in 1989, and the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990.
Mr. Doyle graduated from Elmira Free Academy in 1942 where he continued his education at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He received his Bachelors degree in 1949 and his Masters degree in 1950, both in health and physical education.