William Sudeck, a coach and physical education instructor at CWRU, died August 24 at his home in Cleveland Heights. He was 74 and had cancer.
Sudeck's name went hand-in-hand with CWRU athletics. The energetic Sudeck was with the University for 46 years and had no plans to retire anytime soon. He strongly believed that CWRU and its athletic programs jointly prepare student-athletes for careers and for life. This meant he never had an off-season, yet he didn't complain. Sudeck was the head coach of the men's track and field and cross-country teams, and he had tremendous success with both programs over the years.
In the past six seasons, Coach Sudeck won five North Coast Athletic Conference titles -- two each in men's cross country and men's indoor track, and one more in men's outdoor track. He won NCAC Coach of the Year honors in all three sports in the 1993-94 season, and was the honoree in men's cross-country in fall 1994. His most recent award came last spring when his men's track team finished third at the University Athletic Association, earning him and his staff Coach of the Year honors.
Sudeck was the past president of the Ohio Coaches Cross Country Association and had been named Coach of the Year by the Ohio Collegiate Cross Country Coaches, the North Coast Athletic Conference, and the University Athletic Conference. His cross-country teams had won four NCAC titles since 1990.
He also was the only men's basketball coach in CWRU's history. Recent teams had been the schools finest in nearly a decade, with five out of the past six seasons having 11 or more wins, including a school record 17 in 1998-99. His career record at CWRU was 280-394 (29 years), and his career record at Case Institute of Technology was 49-88 (8 years), giving him a total of 37 years as a collegiate head basketball coach with a lifetime record of 329-482. Sudeck had been involved in all levels of basketball, and had served on the selection committee for the Olympic basketball team.
Sudeck also was an outstanding athlete during his playing days. He was Kent State University's all-time leading scorer in basketball when he graduated in 1948, earning him a spot in the Hall of Fame. He had a tryout with the Chicago Cubs of the major leagues, and was offered a minor league contract. He opted to enter coaching instead.
After a stint as an assistant basketball coach at Akron East High School, he joined Case Institute of Technology's athletic department as head cross country and track coach and assistant basketball coach in 1954. He was promoted to head basketball coach at CIT in 1963, and had remained in the role ever since. In 1997, Sudeck was inducted into the CWRU's Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sudeck is survived by his daughter Sue and grandsons Dan, Tim, and Scott.
Memorial contributions can be sent to the William C. Sudeck Scholarship Fund at the Case Alumni Association, 107 Crawford Hall, location code 7073.
![[Toolbar]](/pix/ribbon.gif){kind=small}