Story Of Legendary Reading Track Coach Subject Of New Documentary

READING, MA — The Reading Memorial High School track was named for legendary track coach Hal Croft in November. Now, Croft's story will be told in a documentary feature film.

Constant Motion Entertainment, a production company specializing in tales of courage, heroism and sacrifice, has announced that a film tentatively titled "Croft" is in production.

The film is being produced by Brandon Millett, a 1987 RMHS graduate and former member of Croft's track team, who is an award-winning producer and CEO of Constant Motion Entertainment.

"Croft," according to the film's website, will tell the remarkable story of a decorated Marine sergeant who later became the winningest coach in the history of high school track and field.

The film also delves into the subject of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Croft has revealed that he is one of many who suffer from the disorder, which he has called a "pandemic."

Croft, who taught English, retired from RMHS in 2014 and was present at the track-naming ceremony last month.

Croft actually took over a Rockets track team that had gone 0-9 in 1970, and he went 3-6 in his first season. Then, over the next 29 years, Croft's teams won 263 dual meets in a row.

During his career, Croft was named National Track Coach of the Year and McDonald's Coach of the Year, and in 1995 he was profiled in Sports Illustrated. Croft also is a member of the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Many former RMHS athletes credit Croft with helping them achieve success during and after high school.

The film will detail Croft's time in combat, where he earned a Silver Star "for daring and heroic actions," and a Bronze Star for saving the lives of four of his fellow Marines in the Hill Fights at Khe Sanh.

"(That's) where I learned about human nature, endurance, and tolerance. I learned about individual motivation, young men taking advantage of their potential while they have it," Croft told Sports Illustrated about his experience in the military.

As for Croft's reputation as a taskmaster, the coach explained to Sports Illustrated why that was his coaching style.

"Why do you think I'm so tough? Because I'm mean? No. It's that out in the real world everybody's a tiger," Croft said.

No release date has been announced for the film.