Former Coach, Administrator and Teacher Kozuch Gets RHS Hall Spot

VERNON, CT — The late Ronald A. Kozuch, a 35-year veteran of the Vernon Public school system who had a impact on both the athletics and academic programs at Rockville High School, is the third announced 2021 inductee into the RHS Athletic Hall of Fame.

Committee chairman Scott Smith, a 1988 RHS graduate, made the announcement Monday.

The eighth RHS Hall of Fame Social and Induction Ceremonies are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19 at the high school. A 1 p.m. social will be followed by the 2 p.m. ceremonies. Tickets are priced at $20 and can be reserved by contacting Smith at smithsc33sbcglobal.net or at 860-604-6618.

Previously-announced members of the Class of 2021 are former left-handed power baseball pitcher Jason M. Metzger’00 and former football interior lineman Brian J. Arnold ’91, both of whom earned All-State recognition, played on their respective sport’s first state championship teams, and went on to play collegiately at the Division I level.

Arriving in December of 1957 and throughout his first nine years at RHS, Kozuch, a Wethersfield native, established himself as an energetic and popular teacher in the subjects of driver education and physical education. In addition, Kozuch was a vital part of the athletics staff, serving as an assistant on the soccer and basketball coaching staffs of charter RHS Hall of Fame inductee Director of Athletics and coach John Canavari, and taking over the reins as head coach of the baseball team.

In nine years (1958-66) as head baseball coach, Kozuch compiled a record of 90-50, and led the program to two conference titles and four straight state tournaments, including back-to-back finals appearances in 1962 and ’63.

As a coach, Kozuch’s demanded his players be fit, aggressive, hard-nosed and fundamentally sound. Over his first four seasons, the Yellow Jackets/Rams progressively improved, and began to catch the attention of Connecticut Valley Conference foes after finishing with a record of 10-6 in 1961.

The spring of 1962 began a dominant four-year run for Kozuch’s teams. Led by four future RHS Hall of Famers in senior Stan Olander and freshmen Alan Putz, Jim Martello and Joe VanOudenhouve, the Rams finished 13-3 and earned their first CIAC Class B State Tournament berth since 1957.

In the tournament, Olander threw two consecutive no-hitters — a 1-0 quarterfinal win against Waterford, followed by a 2-0 semifinal gem against defending state champion Southington at Palmer Field in Middletown — and sent Rockville to its first-ever finals appearance where RHS was upended 11-2 by Seymour at New Britain's Arute Field.

The spring of 1963 proved to be another banner season for Kozuch and the Rams as they secured a first-ever CVC championship with a record of 14-1 and made another deep run in the CIAC Class B State Tournament. A right-handed pitcher, Martello threw consecutive shutouts against Housatonic Valley Regional (5-0) and Middletown (2-0) to secure a second straight finals appearance for the Rams, where they were defeated, 2-0, in a hard-fought pitcher’s duel by James Memorial of Simsbury at Muzzy Field in Bristol.

The next two seasons may have showcased the best of Kozuch's coaching prowess. Hampered by injuries, the '64 team managed to finish 11-5 and qualify for the state tournament, while the '65 team rebounded to finish 14-1, win a second CVC title and qualify for a fourth consecutive CIAC state tournament.

After a program-changing nine-year run in charge of the baseball program, Kozuch resigned following the 1966 season and spent the next 25 years in a variety of administrative capacities, first as principal of the Adult Evening School through 1976, then as Director of the Continuing Education Program, and finally in 1985 becoming Assistant Principal/Housemaster ot RHS until his retirement in 1992.

Kozuch was a standout three-sport star at both Wethersfield (2004 WHS Athletic HOF inductee) and played baseball and soccer at Trinity College before graduating in 1956. A catcher, he played professional baseball with the New York Giants organization with Springfield, MA and Johnstown, PA in the Eastern League. He was married for 49 years to the late Pauline C. (Wolf) Kozuch and had two daughters, Carolyn K. DeFrancesco and Elizabeth T. Dawber.