Jim Kubuske says coaching high school football is in his blood.

If that's the case, he'll be bleeding Cardinal Stritch red and black for many years to come.

Kubuske, the former head coach at Lake, is Stritch's new football coach. He replaces Joe Gutilla, whose family moved to Texas because of other job opportunities.

“I enjoy coaching,” said Kubuske, 57. “I've had it in my blood. I've been a head coach for 28 years and I enjoy running my program and being involved with young players and making decisions. The strategy, the planning, all of that is part of what I've always loved to do and strive to do. This was a good opportunity for me to get back in it.”

Kubuske spent nine years (1998-2006) as Lake's head coach and led the Flyers to a 45-45 record and one Suburban Lakes League title. His 2000 and 2001 teams made the school's first-ever state playoff appearances.

Jim Kubuske

Kubuske was an assistant coach at Perrysburg from 2007-08 and was the head coach at Tiffin Calvert in 2009. The Senecas went 5-5 that season but handed playoff-bound Midland Athletic League champion Fremont St. Joe its only regular-season loss.

“The kids got up for that one,” Kubuske recalled. “We rolled in on a Saturday night and let them have it.”

Kubuske left Calvert after one season and returned to Perrysburg, where he coached tight ends and defensive ends. The Yellow Jackets finished 8-2 last season.

“The football coach at Calvert left in June (2009) and I knew the athletic director there,” Kubuske said. “It was kind of last-minute. Being an hour away, once the season ended it was tough for me to get down there for weight training and they needed somebody close to handle things. I had a good experience at Calvert. They treated me very well.”

Stritch Athletic Director Chad Rutkowski said he received 45 applications for the head football coaching position. Kubuske is now the Cardinals' seventh head coach since 2000.

“Jim had every quality we were looking for,” Rutkowski said. “He is highly respected among his peers and players, and his knowledge the game was above and beyond what we could have expected. His charisma, his passion for the game is exceptional. Everybody on the panel instantly was gravitated to him. It was a difficult decision but Jim was the guy, without a doubt.”

Kubuske currently teaches sixth grade computer and health at Lake Middle School, but he will assume a yet-to-be-named position at Stritch at the end of this school year.

The Amherst Steele High School graduate, who lives in Millbury, said he's kept track of Cardinal Stritch's football program in recent years.

“I'm familiar with the program, since I came here in 1998,” Kubuske said. “We (Lake) played Stritch in the regular season. With me living in Millbury, they're right up the street in Oregon. They went to the playoffs in 2006 and they've had a tough time here in the last few years.”

The Cardinals posted back-to-back 1-9 seasons in 2008 and '09 but were making strides under Gutilla. Last year, in Gutilla's second season, Stritch finished with a 4-6 record.

“Hopefully I can step in and we can continue that growth and success that coach Gutilla got going last year,” Kubuske said. “Hopefully we can build on that and build success. We had a parent-player meeting on Wednesday (Feb. 9) and we had over 30 players and younger kids. We're going to start a flag football program in third and fourth grade. The meeting was a good opportunity to see the whole range of Cardinal Stritch players and fans.”

Kubuske added that he looks for a smooth transition with the new coaching staff players, and he wants everyone from grades K-12 to get excited about Stritch football.

“We're going to try to encompass all the grades and get them involved,” he said. “I can see it's a good atmosphere and there's a good attitude to get in there and work. I'm excited about this opportunity and I want to thank the people for giving me a chance.

“Father Eric (Schild) and Chad and (executive assistant AD) Maria Peters have been real nice to me and been an important part of me making this decision. They've been very positive and very upbeat, and it rubs off.”

The Cardinals open the 2011 season at Plymouth (Mich.) Christian Academy.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed