GAMBIER, Ohio – The next time the Kenyon men's basketball team hits the hardwood, it will be under the direction of newly hired head coach Dave Kunka. Upon recently accepting that leadership role, Kunka becomes the 17th head coach in the 102-year history of the Kenyon men's basketball program.
"We are very excited to have Dave join our staff," director of athletics Jennie Bruening said. "He not only brings strong coaching and playing experience to Kenyon, but a high-energy personality that lets his players know he's dedicated to their success in the gym and in the classroom."
Kunka's arrival at Kenyon comes after three years of service as an assistant coach at North Central. He worked under head coach Bob Bray to guide the Cardinals through a span of steady improvement, in which the team upgraded from a 3-22 season to back-to-back 8-17 seasons.
Kunka developed his basketball philosophies at NCC, while coaching in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin – one of the strongest men's basketball conferences in NCAA Division III.
"Although the end results might not be exactly what you want, you can never underestimate the importance of playing against some of the top teams in the nation," Kunka explained. "It gives you an up-close look at what is needed to reach that level and it pushes you to strive for that kind of success. It's the same in the NCAC (North Coast Athletic Conference). Wittenberg and Wooster are the cream of the crop right now and that's where we want to be with this Kenyon team."
A native of Palos Heights, Ill., Kunka graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He moved ahead in 1994 and earned his master's degree in physical education from Northern Illinois.
On the court, Kunka's playing career has been recorded among the best at Illinois Wesleyan, an institution that is second only to Wittenberg among the all-time win leaders in Division III history.
A four-year starting guard, Kunka finished his career ranked in the school's top thirty in points (1,159), rebounds (438) and assists (326). He was a three-time team captain and helped his squad to a combined record of 68-41 during his four years of play. He was named a First Team All-CCIW honoree and a District V Academic All-American during the 1990-'91 season.
During his collegiate career, Kunka had the privilege of being coached by Dennie Bridges, the winningest Division III coach in the 1990s. He also had the privilege of coaching alongside Bridges during the 1991-'92 season.
"I blew out my knee in the first game of the '91-'92 season, so instead of playing I worked as a student assistant for Coach Bridges," Kunka said. "I really hated to miss a season, but in retrospect it could have been the best thing that happened to me. I worked closely with Coach Bridges and really got a behind-the-scenes look at what Division III basketball was all about. He taught me a lot and got me to seriously think about a coaching career."
"I am very excited to be at Kenyon and understand that this College is not an average Division III school," Kunka added. "Kenyon's selectivity and high standards make it one of the best academic schools in the nation and I understand the priority on the students' success in the classroom. I am, however, also committed to the athletic side of my players' lives. We are shooting for superiority in academics and athletics."
Kunka replaces Jamie Harless, who left in August to become an assistant coach at Division II California University of Pennsylvania. He inherits a team that went 9-16 last season and a combined 15-35 during Harless' two-year stint.