St. Joseph, Mo. – Bishop LeBlond Athletic Director Michael Evans announced Wednesday that LeBlond head football coach Tony Dudik will retire in May after more than 41 years of teaching and leading young men in the sport.

Evans said that as the “dean of area football coaches,” Tony Dudik represents more than just a football coach. “When Coach Dudik arrived nine years ago to lead our program he accepted the challenges of coaching the smallest school in a very competitive conference and of reinvigorating the tradition of LB football,” Evans said. “But Tony’s influence and impact goes far beyond the football field. He brought an energy, enthusiasm, and most importantly faith example, for all our students. Tony always wanted our teams to be prepared athletically and to compete, but most importantly he wanted each student at Bishop LeBlond to become the best person he or she could be.”

Coach Dudik’s career includes 33 years at the city’s largest high school, Central, (23 years as head coach, 9 as assistant and 1 as volunteer). His record at Central was 113-119. At Central, he coached six players who ultimately played in the NFL, 12 college Division I players, and 38 players who played at other college levels. At LeBlond he finishes with a record of 32-65.  His LB teams were district runner-up in 2012 and 2013, and reached the district semifinals in 2014-2016. To date, 14 players from LeBlond have gone on to play college football.

Dudik has won numerous coaching and teaching awards throughout his years of service including being a 2011 Missouri Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee, and being named a 2016 National Double-Goal Coach Award Winner by the Positive Coaching Alliance.

Tony and his wife Mary Ann Westhoff Dudik, a Bishop LeBlond graduate, have three children and seven grandchildren. He said he hopes in retirement to be able to share the journey with them, as well as spend time with his mother and mother-in-law. “I don’t know what my future holds, but I do know who holds my future,” Dudik said. “I will cherish all my memories for the rest of my life. It’s always a great day to be an Eagle.”

Evans said the search for a new football coach begins immediately. Ideally, Evans said, the new coach will be able to teach physical education/weight training as well as coach football. Anyone interested should contact Evans at mevans@bishopleblondhs.com.

— Bishop LeBlond Press Release —