The son of a teacher-coach and a saleswoman, Hoch grew up in Collingswood, New Jersey, with three older siblings.
He now teaches in the Salameno School of Humanities and Global Studies at Ramapo College in New Jersey.
Prior to teaching, Hoch worked as a dishwasher, dock worker, cook, social worker, and shepherd.
Hoch has lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Takoma Park, Maryland; Charlottesville, Virginia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Collingswood, New Jersey and Nyack, New York.
He now resides Garrison, NY, with his wife, younger son Owen and older son Aidan.