2007 Inductee Chad Kuhns, 1997
One of the best conditioned and hardest working football players ever to wear the Redmen colors was 1997 graduate Chad Kuhns. Chad re-wrote the Redmen record book in football, went on to a successful college football career, and briefly flirted with an NFL career before retiring from the football scene.
Chad earned three letters in football. He rushed for a school-record 2,016 yards during his senior season, scoring 22 touchdowns along the way. He was voted team captain his senior year and was first team All-Northern Ohio League as a running back and All-NOL as a defensive end as well. He was also first team All-District his senior season as district Player of the Year, and earned first team All-Ohio status as well.
Chad helped the Redmen achieve a regional football championship in 1996, the first regional title in school history. While playing for the Redmen, Chad helped his team win the Northern Ohio League title in 1993, 1994, and 1996. Other honors include team captain in 1996, team conditioning champion in 1995, second team All-NOL in 1995, and sophomore conditioning champion in 1994. He was also honorable mention All-NOL as a defensive back in 1995.
In track and field, Chad earned three letters for the Redmen and was a state qualifier in the 4 x 100 meter relay in 1997, was a state qualifier in the shot put in 1997, was team MVP that same season, was a regional qualifier in the 100-meter dash in 1997, and was a regional qualifier in the shot put in 1996.
After high school, Chad was selected to play in the Ohio North-South football contest before heading off to Wisconsin after being recruited by Barry Alvarez to play football for the Badgers.
While at Wisconsin, Chad was a three-time All-Big 10 selection (’99, ’00, ’01), earned four varsity letters, played on two Big 10 championship teams (’98, ’99), played in three bowl games (Rose Bowl, 1999; Rose Bowl, 2000; Sun Bowl, 2000), was voted team captain in 2001, was selected for the Rotary Gridiron Classic All-Star Team in 2002, set the Wisconsin record for fullbacks in the 40-yard dash and for the pro agility time, and was the lead blocker for Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne during the 1999 season.
Chad then signed as a free agent with the New York Jets in both 2002 and 2003, and was a free agent signee with the St. Louis Rams in 2003.
Chad and his wife, Erica, and their daughter reside in Madison, Wisconsin.