Charles “Bud” Hagan ushered Westfield State into its modern era of intercollegiate athletics, serving as the first full-time athletics director beginning in 1956, the year the college moved from its downtown Westfield location to Western Avenue.

Hagan wore many hats during his 34 years at Westfield State. From 1956-62 he coached the baseball and basketball teams, was a physical education instructor, and directed the intramurals and intercollegiate athletics programs.

Hagan was the registrar at Westfield State until his retirement in 1990. He has been a member of the College’s athletics Hall of Fame committee since its inception, serving the first three years as chairperson and the past three years as an ex officio.

Hagan was a standout athlete in baseball, basketball, football and track at Westfield High School. He played basketball and baseball at Arnold College, now the University of Bridgeport, and received his master’s degree from American International College.

A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, Hagan began his coaching career in the Canadian Maritimes. He coached basketball and football at St. Patrick’s High School, and basketball at King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

While in the Maritimes, Hagan was a standout pitcher for the St. John Dodgers in the New Brunswick Provincial League, and in basketball he led Halifax to a second-place finish in the Canadian Amateur Championships in 1954-55. Hagan poured in a city record 42 points in one game during the season.