According to a Facebook post from Highland Local Schools, former Ohio State and Highland High School defensive end Mike Kudla has passed away unexpectedly at age 34.
Here is the release.
Dear Highland Parents and Friends,
We were informed this morning that Mike Kudla passed away unexpectedly yesterday, Sunday, July 15. He was 34.
Mike was a proud 2002 graduate of Highland High School. An honor student and four-year letter winner, he left Highland with over 500 career tackles and was named to several All-America teams. He was a graduate of The Ohio State University and a member of the 2002 National Championship Team under Coach Jim Tressel, a two-time Big Ten Champion, First Team All-Big Ten, and 2005 Team Defensive MVP. Mike capped off his Ohio State career with a three-sack performance in a win over Notre Dame and ranks 14th in Ohio State history for career sacks.
After his career in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike embraced his entrepreneurial spirit and began a career in insurance and risk management. After several years, the opportunity arose to join The Ohio State University and, in 2012, Mike was named Managing Director of Development for the Fisher College of Business. Most recently, he was the owner of Core Plex, where he developed and built medical facilities all over the country. He was also working with the NFL on protocols for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which is a neurodegenerative disease found in people who have experienced multiple head injuries.
Despite his success on and off the football field, Mike remained humble and was extremely generous with his time and resources. He was always willing to share his experience and mentor youth. He was loved and respected by many and will be missed terribly.
The Kudla’s have been long-time members of the Highland community. His mother, Mary Fran, worked at Highland Schools for 20 years, retiring in July 2017, and remains the director of the Highland Community Education program.
Mary Fran and her husband, Paul, reside in Montville Township and have four other children, Brian (’98), Katie (’00), Eric (’05, also employed at Highland Schools) and Emily (’09).
Most of us cannot begin to imagine the depth of grief that their family is going through right now. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Funeral arrangements are pending. We will keep you informed as more information becomes available.
Thank you,
Dawn Marzano
Director of Communications
Highland Local School District
Kudla played for Ohio State from 2002-2005, and his best season as a Buckeye was 2005, when he recorded 11.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. That sack total still ranks in the top 10 best seasons in Ohio State history.
He set a Fiesta Bowl record with three sacks in a win over Notre Dame at the end of the 2005 season.
No cause of death has been released and Ohio State has not yet released a statement on Kudla’s passing.
This story will be updated as more information is released.
Who can forget the Minnesota game when he ran down their feature back (Maroney sp) from behind and flattened him. There is strength and there was Mike’s strength. God bless him and the great family he leaves behind.
This one is going to take a long time to get over. Mike was a GREAT man. The first time I met him was in the weight room. The guy was a beast. It stinks that you’ll be sitting there watching the Bucks on Saturdays with Woody, Will Smith and so many others, but we’ll miss your presence down here. RIP Mike. I’ll see you when I see you.
Wow what a shame at only 34 years of age. I loved watching him play. Strong as a bull with a motor that never stopped. All heart and you never heard a bad word about him off the field. Prayers go out to his parents, siblings, and teammates/friends during their time of grief. Just very sad.