Rush hires AFL vet Nudo to lead team

With the Mike Hohensee era in Chicago now over, the Rush has hired Arena Football League veteran Gene Nudo as the team's new president and general manager.

Nudo replaces Ken Valdiserri, and one of his first duties will be to find a head coach to fill the void left by the departure of Hohensee, who led the Rush for nine seasons and one ArenaBowl championship. Valdiserri left the team last month shortly after Hohensee resigned on Aug. 19.

Nudo, a native of Norridge, Nudo spent more than 20 years working in the AFL, first as an assistant coach with the Chicago Bruisers (1987-88),then later as the AFL's vice president of football operations (1990-95). As senior vice president, general manager and head coach of the Arizona Rattlers (1995-2007),he helped them become one of the league's premier franchises.The Rattlers advanced to the ArenaBowl four times (1997, 2002, 2003, 2004), winning the 1997 title.

Most recently, Nudo was general manager of the AFL's Dallas Vigilantes, taking over the team midway through the 2010 season.

"We have an exceptional talent in Gene," said Rush co-owner Bill Niro. "He brings drive, knowledge, leadership and a track record of success as he returns to his hometown of Chicago."

Nudo is excited to return to the place where he started his Arena Football career.

"It is my plan to help lead the Rush back to the ArenaBowl, and to build upon the great history the club has over these past nine years," Nudo said. "Chicago is the home of Arena Football and it feels good to be back."

Prior to his involvement in Arena Football, Nudo was a highly successful head coach with the River Grove Cowboys minor league football team. In his six years as the team's coach, Nudo won five league championships and advanced to the Minor Professional Football Association's national championship game three times, winning with an undefeated team in 1984.

Nudo also spent three seasons (1989-91) as head coach at Driscoll Catholic High School in Addison. In his three seasons with the Highlanders, Nudo posted a 33-5 record and won the 1991 Class 3A state title, the first in the school's history.