Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Dave Kotulski Named Acting Head Football Coach for 2002 Season
7/25/2002 8:00:00 AM | Football
July 25, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Associate head coach Dave Kotulski, an eight-year veteran of the Bucknell football program, will serve as acting head coach of the Bison for the 2002 season, director of athletics and recreation John Hardt announced Thursday.
Tom Gadd, who is entering his eighth year as Bucknell's head coach, will be focusing on regaining his health this season. Gadd has been battling cancer since early 2001.
Kotulski has been a college football coach since 1978 and Gadd's defensive coordinator at Bucknell since 1995. During his time in Lewisburg Kotulski has molded many outstanding defensive units, including last year's squad that ranked fifth nationally in yards allowed and in the top 20 nationally in four other categories. In fact, in seven seasons under Kotulski, the Bison defense has finished lower than second in the Patriot League in total defense only once.
Kotulski has coached four All-Americans, including current senior nose guard Adam Lord, as well as 29 All-Patriot League defenders.
"Our thoughts are with Tom and his family every day as he deals with his health situation," said Hardt. "And the program is fortunate to have someone like Dave Kotulski to whom we can turn. Dave has been by Tom's side for nearly eight years, he knows Bison Football and Bucknell University thoroughly, and he is clearly the best choice to make this important transition a seamless one for the football program."
A 1974 graduate of New Mexico State, Kotulski was promoted to associate head coach at Bucknell this past January. He served as defensive coordinator at St. Mary's (Calif.) from 1990-94. From 1978-89 he served as a defensive assistant coach at Utah, working under defensive coordinator Tom Gadd during his last three seasons with the Utes.
At Bucknell Gadd has built a 48-28 record while leading the Bison to seven straight winning seasons for the first time in school history. He is tied with Bob Curtis for first place on Bucknell's all-time victory list.
Bucknell has its first full-squad preseason practice on Aug. 15, with the season opener slated for Sept. 7 at Duquesne.
