By Laura Eley
He is the namesake of the basketball court, a Varina Hall of Famer and the subject of one of five portraits hanging in the cafeteria.
Long-time coach Glenn Rudacille better known as “Coach Rudy” passed away in August. He was 84.
He coached for 55 years, 42 of those years at Varina where he coached boys and girls basketball, varsity and JV football, baseball, track and tennis. He also taught physical education and served as department leader.
Coach Rudy was a graduate of Randolph-Macon College and earned a master’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He served two years in the United States Marine Corps.
His first job in education began in 1954 at New Kent High School. His job description included assistant football coach, head basketball coach, track coach, teacher of eighth grade math, science and social studies, senior business math and one physical education class. He earned $2,600. He moved on to Henry Clay High School (Ashland) and Patrick Henry High School before former Varina coach and athletic director Tommy Doub hired him.
Mr. Doub said Coach Rudy’s longevity as a coach is unusual.
“Those things don’t happen anymore. It’s a different way of life now,” Coach Doub said. “Coaches come and go.”
SOL reading, math and writing tutor and former tennis coach Sharon Dearth said his smile was the first thing that impressed her.
“I liked him because he smiled,” Mrs. Dearth said. “If you could get awards for being a great human being, he would get it.”
Former coach and 1967 alumnus Warner Eberly met Coach Rudacille when Mr. Eberly was a senior.
“He was extremely organized and worked extremely hard and expected you to work hard, too,” Mr. Eberly said.
Mr. Eberly summarized how many at school and in the community feel about Coach Rudy.
“You don’t meet people like him often,” Mr. Eberly said.
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