When Walt Nadzak left Ambridge
High School in 1935, he began
a successful journey as
a player, coach, and administrator. Walt won seven letters in high
school and as a guard and defensive end won All WPIAL and All State
honors as a senior. Walt also played on two championship baseball
teams in American Legion action. It was then off to Denison
University, where he continued to star in football and baseball,
being named Little All American in football and was the leading hitter
and MVP on the baseball squad. His outstanding play netted him
induction into the Denison Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. With his
desire to coach, Walt got started at the high school level in Ohio
at three different schools between 1960 and 1965. In fall 1965 he
got into college coaching at Muskingum, which led to the head
football job and athletic director position at Juniata College. Walt
spent nine years there and his 1973 squad reached the NCAA Division III
national championship game. When he left Juniata, he
was the college’s all time winningest football coach. Walt began his
stay at UConn in 1977 and twice took teams to a tie for the Yankee
Conference championship. He also was athletic director and continued
to be heavily involved in various NCAA committees, including being
chairman of the District I Football Rules Committee. Walt left the
Huskies in 1983 for a position in marketing and development at
Eckerd (FL) College. While there for two years, he scouted for the
New York Jets, but the lure of athletic administration brought him
back to the AD position at The Citadel, where served for more than
12 years. At The Citadel he oversaw dramatic improvement in the
entire sports program and continued to be a valuable member of many
national and conference committees, including running the Southern
Conference baseball tournament. Walt is also a member of the
Ambridge Sports Hall of Fame.
When Walt Nadzak left Ambridge
High School in 1935, he began
a successful journey as
a player, coach, and administrator. Walt won seven letters in high
school and as a guard and defensive end won All WPIAL and All State
honors as a senior. Walt also played on two championship baseball
teams in American Legion action. It was then off to Denison
University, where he continued to star in football and baseball,
being named Little All American in football and was the leading hitter
and MVP on the baseball squad. His outstanding play netted him
induction into the Denison Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. With his
desire to coach, Walt got started at the high school level in Ohio
at three different schools between 1960 and 1965. In fall 1965 he
got into college coaching at Muskingum, which led to the head
football job and athletic director position at Juniata College. Walt
spent nine years there and his 1973 squad reached the NCAA Division III
national championship game. When he left Juniata, he
was the college’s all time winningest football coach. Walt began his
stay at UConn in 1977 and twice took teams to a tie for the Yankee
Conference championship. He also was athletic director and continued
to be heavily involved in various NCAA committees, including being
chairman of the District I Football Rules Committee. Walt left the
Huskies in 1983 for a position in marketing and development at
Eckerd (FL) College. While there for two years, he scouted for the
New York Jets, but the lure of athletic administration brought him
back to the AD position at The Citadel, where served for more than
12 years. At The Citadel he oversaw dramatic improvement in the
entire sports program and continued to be a valuable member of many
national and conference committees, including running the Southern
Conference baseball tournament. Walt is also a member of the
Ambridge Sports Hall of Fame.