Henry James (Hank) Kuzma was head basketball
coach at Midland High School from 1960 to 1967, but his winning
record made it seem much longer. During that time, his Leopards won
five section titles, one WPIAL championship, and a PIAA state
basketball title in 1965. Over seven seasons, Hank’s Midland cagers
piled up a 152-20 record for an 88 percent mark. In section
games, their record was 84-6, an incredible 93 percent average.
They won an unprecedented four straight section titles from 1962 to
1965, compiling an amazing 98-4 record for a 97 percent winning
average. Hank's 1961-1962 team was the first at Midland to complete
the regular season undefeated with a 24-0 record. His 1964-1965
squad won the WPIAL and PIAA titles with a perfect 28-0 record, the best record ever compiled at Midland and second only to
Aliquippa’s 29-0 record in 1948-1949. Midland’s fabulous 1964-1965 hoopsters set a school record by scoring 103 points in a victory
over Beaver. They also scored 2203 points during the season for
another school record and beat opponents by an average of 31.6
points per game. Some rival coaches that season tried to arrange
terms of an honorable surrender, including those at
Steelton-Highspire High School, whose team was swamped by Midland in
the 1965 state championship game 90-61. Ironically, Hank was a
Steelton graduate. Hank played his college basketball at Duquesne
University and had a highly successful career as basketball coach at
Steubenville College from 1954 to 1959. His teams there had a 97-19
record, including 47 straight home wins. After leaving Midland in
1967, Hank served as principal of Hershey High School, then
returned to coaching at Plum High and Steubenville
College.
Henry James (Hank) Kuzma was head basketball
coach at Midland High School from 1960 to 1967, but his winning
record made it seem much longer. During that time, his Leopards won
five section titles, one WPIAL championship, and a PIAA state
basketball title in 1965. Over seven seasons, Hank’s Midland cagers
piled up a 152-20 record for an 88 percent mark. In section
games, their record was 84-6, an incredible 93 percent average.
They won an unprecedented four straight section titles from 1962 to
1965, compiling an amazing 98-4 record for a 97 percent winning
average. Hank's 1961-1962 team was the first at Midland to complete
the regular season undefeated with a 24-0 record. His 1964-1965
squad won the WPIAL and PIAA titles with a perfect 28-0 record, the best record ever compiled at Midland and second only to
Aliquippa’s 29-0 record in 1948-1949. Midland’s fabulous 1964-1965 hoopsters set a school record by scoring 103 points in a victory
over Beaver. They also scored 2203 points during the season for
another school record and beat opponents by an average of 31.6
points per game. Some rival coaches that season tried to arrange
terms of an honorable surrender, including those at
Steelton-Highspire High School, whose team was swamped by Midland in
the 1965 state championship game 90-61. Ironically, Hank was a
Steelton graduate. Hank played his college basketball at Duquesne
University and had a highly successful career as basketball coach at
Steubenville College from 1954 to 1959. His teams there had a 97-19
record, including 47 straight home wins. After leaving Midland in
1967, Hank served as principal of Hershey High School, then
returned to coaching at Plum High and Steubenville
College.