Jay Hutchins, a former Greely High three-sport standout who went on to star in soccer at Boston College, will be inducted into the BC Varsity Club Hall of Fame next month.

Hutchins, who will be among 12 athletes and two administrators honored, was a midfielder on strong teams from 1980-83. He scored 62 points — sixth all time for the Eagles — with 21 goals in 81 games.

Hutchins was an All-New England choice for three years, All-Big East his junior and senior seasons, and All-Greater Boston League three years, including MVP as a sophomore.

The induction will be Sept. 16. All honorees will be recognized at halftime of the BC-Duke football game the next day. Others being inducted include NHL standout Brian Leetch, who graduated in 1987, and 16-year NFL linebacker Bill Romanowski, who graduated in 1988.

“I heard it was going to happen this year or next,” said Hutchins, 50, who lives in Roswell, Ga., with his wife, Rowena. They have four children — Sarah, 23; Jeanette, 20; T.J., 17; and Chase, 14. T.J. and Chase play basketball at Pope High in Marietta, Ga.

“When I got the phone call that it was going to be this year, it was great,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of great team athletic moments, but this is the best individual award you can get. Boston College plays it up big. To go in with great athletes like Brian Leetch and Bill Romanowski makes it even more special. My father is a big New York Rangers fan. I think he’s more excited to see Leetch inducted than he is me. My kids are excited about it. I think I’m the fifth soccer player to go in. Some of my teammates are planning to be there.”

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Hutchins played soccer at Greely for his father, Glenn Hutchins. He was All-State in soccer three years and All-State in basketball as a senior. He was a pitcher-shortstop in baseball. He followed his brother, Kyle, who is four years older, as a three-sport standout for the Rangers. Kyle played soccer at Providence College. Both brothers played pro soccer.

“I wanted to go to Boston College since I was 13,” said Hutchins. “My dad took us down to a Boston Minutemen pro soccer game at Boston College. I sat in the stands at Alumni Stadium and looked around at the campus. Something about the school and campus felt right. I told my parents this is where I was going to college. My mother fell in love with the school and also Providence, where my brother went.”

Hutchins was recruited by BC Coach Ben Brewster. He was also recruited by several other Division I New England schools.

“Coach Brewster kept calling me every day,” said Hutchins. “At first they didn’t offer enough money to make it work. My father was a school teacher and my mom stayed at home. I told the coach he had to make it happen.

“Back then they got scholarship money from different areas. I guess the hockey coach owed him a favor. I think some of my scholarship came from the hockey program.”

Hutchins worked for Unum for 18 years before moving to Colonial Life Insurance in Atlanta. He is vice president of broker marketing.

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Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 


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