BOSTON - The Boston University athletic community lost one of its all-time greats last week, as Tod Giles '94 passed away suddenly at the age of 45. A 1999 BU Hall of Fame inductee, Giles was the first Terrier wrestler to ever earn NCAA Division I All-America honors.

Giles is survived by his wife, Leonie Kortenhorst Giles, and two children, Isaiah, 6, and Tori, 4. Leonie was an All-America field hockey standout at BU and was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.

"We are all extremely saddened by this news of Tod's passing." said Mike Lynch, BU's vice president and director of athletics. "Our thoughts are with Leonie and the entire Giles family. Tod's commitment to excellence will forever be remembered here at BU."

After winning his first New England championship as a freshman at Rhode Island in 1981, Giles transferred to BU, following Carl Adams, who took over the Terrier program that year after serving as URI's head coach for its final two seasons as a varsity program.

He went to capture two more New England titles as a Terrier and compiled an overall record of 86-5. He culminated his career in 1984, when he posted a 39-2 record to set a school mark for wins in a season. At that year's NCAA Championships, he finished eighth at 190 pounds to capture All-America honors.

In the spring of 1984, just credits shy of graduation, he enlisted in the Marines, where he continued to excel on the mat. He was a four-time All-Marine wrestler, was a freestyle champion at the World Military Games, and was a nine-time place winner at the U.S. National Championships. In addition he was an alternate on the United States' 1988 and 1996 Olympic Greco-Roman Teams.

Tod returned to BU in 1991 to complete his credits for his degree while serving as an assistant coach under Adams. In 1994, he received his bachelor's degree and went on to become the head coach at West Point for four seasons.