Coach Dave Kudela: LCGBCA Hall of Fame

In March, Coach Dave Kudela was inducted into the Lorain County Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame!

A long-time member of the Firelands community, Coach Dave Kudela, began his head coaching career at Avon High School in 1992, coaching the Varsity Boys Basketball Program. After seven seasons, he returned to his alma mater and was the FHS Athletic Director for the next 3 years…however, his coaching career was not over yet. 

Coach Kudela took over the Lady Falcons basketball program in 2003 and stayed as head coach until 2022.  During that time, the Lady Falcons won 6 Conference Championships and 5 Sectional Championships. According to him, “the success of the program was due to fantastic players who played hard and wanted to learn. They were not only hard working, but were great students and wonderful human beings.”

Coach Kudela had the privilege to coach two Miss Basketball winners and one Mr. Basketball during his tenured career. Through the years, great relationships were forged with assistant coaches and more importantly friends; Mr. Chuck Morgan, Ms. Lori Kniesel, Mr. Paul Nixon, Mr. Tom Moyer, and Ms. Donna Palmer. Coach Kudela won Conference Coach of the Year 7 times and 8 Coach of the Year awards for Lorain County Division II. He leaves coaching with 310 wins and is the all-time winningest coach in Lady Falcons Basketball Program history.

All of this success was made possible with the understanding and support of his wife Kelli and his children Megan and Kyle…all Firelands graduates and involved community members.

Congratulations Coach Kudela!

Thank you to Mr. Paul Nixon for the submission.