Fenwick Names Gene Nudo Head Football Coach

Update, 5:15 p.m. Here's Nudo's page on the Chicago Rush website.

has just named Gene Nudo as head coach of the school's varsity football program.

He'll take over for interim coach Scott Thies, the school's athletic director who replaced veteran Friars coach Joseph DiCanio this season after DiCanio's surprise resignation in September.

Earlier:

Here's the details, according to a press release just issued by the school:

A native or Norridge, IL, Coach Nudo is a 25 year veteran of the Arena Football League (AFL) and recently served as the President and General Manager of the Chicago Rush.

“Coach Nudo is highly respected among the football community and brings a tremendous amount of coaching experience and knowledge,” said Fenwick High School Athletic Director, Scott Thies. “We are thrilled to welcome him to our school and confident that he will develop and lead an exceptional football program for our current and future athletes.”

As a head coach for 14 years at various levels (minor league, high school and professionally), Nudo’s teams have won 9 championships while compiling a record of 125-43-2. In 1981, he began his professional coaching career with the River Grove Cowboys where he led the team to an unbeaten National Semi-Pro Championship in 1984.

Throughout his AFL tenure, Nudo worked with the Chicago Bruisers and Arizona Rattlers, where he won the 1997 World Championship.

At the high school level, Nudo coached Driscoll Catholic High School to the school’s first ever State Championship in 1991. In three years as head coach, he compiled a 33 – 5 overall record and the team qualified for the state playoffs every year.

From 2007 – 2010, Nudo was an assistant coach at Brophy College Prepartory in Phoenix, AZ, who won a state football championship in 2007. While in Phoenix, Nudo was also the Camp Director for Zenith Football Training Camps serving high school football players and youth football coaches.

Nudo is a member of the Arena Football League Hall of Fame, Chicagoland Football Hall of Fame, Minor League Hall of Fame, Driscoll Catholic High School Hall of Fame and the Ridgewood High School Hall of Fame.

"I am excited about returning to high school athletics and being part of one of Chicagoland's finest academic institutions in Fenwick High School," says Nudo. "I look forward to leading the Friar football program as we continue its fine tradition in the Chicago Catholic League."