At a Glance
- Retired coach Thomas Hengel, 72, and wife Lisa, 61, died when their SUV struck a Harrison Township home at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2026
- The couple from Mullica Hill left behind an empty house across from neighbor Mike Misuraco, who said both properties now “sit empty”
- Hengel coached at Clearview High from 1981 to 2025, leading cross country and more than 100 seasons of sports before his 2018 Hall of Fame induction
Why it matters: A community has lost a coach remembered for teaching students “how to show up for life, no excuses, no shortcuts.”
A retired high school coach and his wife are being remembered after their SUV crashed into a Harrison Township house Saturday night, killing both.
Thomas Hengel, 72, and Lisa Hengel, 61, of Mullica Hill, died in the crash that occurred just after 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 17, 2026. The family inside the house escaped without injury.
Neighbor Describes Sudden Loss
Mike Misuraco lives across the street from the crash site. He said the tragedy has left a visible void.
“It’s just unfortunate what happened and its horrible for us,” Misuraco said. “My kids and wife, to look across the street and see two empty homes right now, when yesterday morning they were full of life. Now, both lots sit empty.”
Coaching Legacy Spans Four Decades
Hengel spent 44 years at Clearview High School, coaching from 1981 until his retirement in 2025, according to Suburban Family Magazine.
His coaching career included:
- Leading the cross country team
- Coaching more than 100 seasons across various sports
- Induction into the Gloucester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018
Former Athletes Honor His Impact
Social media tributes highlight Hengel’s influence beyond athletics.
Andrea Eppehimer, a former student, posted: “Coach Hengel lived and breathed discipline (and Notre Dame football). He showed up, rain or shine, on the good days and the off days, committed to his teams with a consistency that never wavered. He didn’t just teach us how to run; he taught us how to show up for life, no excuses, no shortcuts.”
Crash Details
The SUV struck the home on the evening of Jan. 17, 2026. Emergency responders found two fatalities at the scene. The family inside the residence was unharmed.
Authorities have not released information about what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and hit the house.
Community Remembers
The crash has left neighbors and former students processing the sudden loss of a coach who dedicated more than four decades to local youth sports.
The Hengels’ deaths mark the second tragedy on their street within days, leaving multiple homes empty along the block.
