Raymond Hyland 

2017

Ray Hyland, one of 10 brothers and sisters, began playing basketball at St. Anthony of Padua Elementary School in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. He then went on to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. At a Breezy Point Summer league game, Ray met Ray Coyne (an Iona College graduate) who spoke to him about the merits of Iona College and living in New Rochelle.


After graduating, Ray enrolled at Iona in 1970. As a three-year varsity standout for the Gaels (freshmen were not eligible in the NCAA in 1970), shooting a career 51%. Hyland appeared in 69 games totaling 1105 points (16.0 per game) and 910 rebounds (13.2 per game). At the end of his Iona career Hyland was the 3rd leading scorer and 2nd leading rebounder in Gael history. Ray was inducted into the Iona College Hall of Fame in 2002.


Immediately after graduation in 1974, Ray traveled to Caracas, Venezuela to play professional basketball. He played two seasons and the team won one National Championship. Hyland then joined the Harlem Wizards Show Team and traveled around South America on four separate occasions. Ray concluded his professional career on a European summer tour with the World Famous Harlem Globetrotters where he worked with Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal.


Getting involved with his children, Ray coached, officiated, administered and assisted the New Rochelle Little League, Holy Family basketball, Babe Ruth leagues and New Rochelle softball. Ray has been Director at both the South Side and AE Mascaro Boys and Girls Clubs and supervised a Saturday morning girl’s basketball program with NR Parks and Recreation for 20 years. He has also assisted at Memorial Sports Tournaments remembering Scott Perdew, Keith Morris, Pat Joyce, Tommy La Bella and Kiernan Grogan Jr. He proudly volunteers at the annual VFW Memorial Day celebration in New Rochelle remembering his father Jack and father-in-law Walter Fegan.


Ray and his wife Barbara have three children; Courtney, Matthew and Stephen (wife Katie) and two grandchildren Jackson and Riley. It is an extreme honor to induct Raymond Hyland into the New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame.