Randy Kuceyeski led LHS football to state title

Posted May 13, 2018 1:00 am

By Dale Eggert on behalf of Libertyville High School

Randy "Coach Kuz" Kuceyeski acknowledging the home crowd after their 2003 playoff semifinal win over Prospect, the defending State Champions. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com, 2003

• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.

Randy Kuceyeski was a 34-year Libertyville High School physical welfare teacher and 18-year head football coach. During his years as head coach, Coach "Kuz" led his team to two state championship games, winning the title game in the 2004 season.

Coach Kuz is a 1972 graduate of Alliance High School (Ohio). He was a three-sport athlete, participating in football, basketball and baseball. Both Randy and his twin brother, Ron, were named All-State players their senior years. Randy was named the team's MVP his junior and senior years, playing tight end and linebacker. He was a National Honor Society member.

Randy and Ron were recruited by several colleges, including Northwestern and Ohio State. The OSU head coach, Woody Hayes, was willing to offer a scholarship to one of the brothers, and was going to let their high school coach decide which one would get it. As much as any Ohio high school player would like to play for the Buckeyes, Ron and Randy wanted to stay together and accepted NU's offers.

Randy played nose guard for the Wildcats, playing against several future NFL Hall of Famers, including Joe Montana and Tony Dungy. He graduated with a major in health/physical education in 1976, staying at NU to earn his master's degree the next year.

From NU, Coach Kuz began his 34-year teaching career at LHS in the fall of 1978. He became the football's team's defensive coordinator right away, a position he stayed in for 16 years under head coach Dale Christensen.

Coach Kuz began his 18-year head coaching career for the 1994 season. His record during this time was 133-58. His teams won five conference championships. Coaching honors include being named to the Lake County High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016.

Fourteen of Coach Kuz's teams qualified for the playoffs. His teams won three playoff games in his first eight years. The buildup to state elite status began in 2002 when they won their first two playoff games. In 2003, they won their first four games, including a 27-0 semifinal win over Prospect, the defending state champions. It took an overtime loss to Oswego to prevent them from the state title. The 2004 team went undefeated with a 14-0 record, finishing off their state championship with a 13-3 win over Cary-Grove.

Kuceyeski retired from teaching and coaching at LHS after the 2012 school year. Other activities he was involved in at LHS were founding the Athletes Committed to Excellence and running that program for 20 years. He coached the track shot and discus throwers for 16 years. He also coached the jumpers and hurdlers a few of those years.

A thrill for Coach Kuz was coaching his two children, son John, who was a strong safety and a captain of the 2004 team, and daughter Kristen, who kicked extra points for the 2000 and 2001 teams. John has been a college football coach since his college graduation. Randy and his wife, Martha, have spent many Saturday afternoons watching John's teams. He is currently the running backs coach for Cornell University.

Coach Kuz was the master of promotions including Breast Cancer Night where the players wore pink jerseys, and Camo Night in honor of the Military Football Alumni. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

Randy Kuceyeski earned All-State honors for Alliance High School in Ohio before being recruited to play for Northwestern University. Courtesy of Randy Kuceyeski

Before taking over the head football coaching position, Coach Kuz was a 16-year defensive coordinator, shown here in the fall of 1985. On the right, Coach Kuz founded the ACE program - Athletes Committed to Excellence - that promoted athletes living drug and alcohol free lifestyles. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

From left, Randy Kuceyeski, former NU running back Mike Adamle and Randy's twin brother, Ron Kuceyeski, at the 1993 Northwestern Football Alumni Game. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

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