Darrell E. Mudra, Sr.

Darrell E. Mudra, Sr. of Tallahassee, Florida passed away on September 20, 2022, at the age of 93. Born on January 4, 1929, Darrell was raised in Omaha, Nebraska by his parents Rudolph and Myrtle (Hopkins) Mudra. He and his six siblings were a close-knit family and enjoyed each other's company throughout the years at family reunions and holidays held at his parents' home in South Omaha.

Darrell attended Peru State College where he was a standout fullback and the Bobcats’ leading scorer in 1950. After graduating from Nebraska-based Peru State, he and his wife Jean (King) moved to Tekamah, Nebraska. As head football coach at Tekamah High School, his 1954 Tekamah team was undefeated. Darrell’s success at the high school level prompted him to enter the college coaching ranks.

His coaching career took him from Nebraska to Colorado; North Dakota; Arizona; Illinois; Iowa; Florida; Montreal, Canada; and even to Florence, Italy where he coached an Italian professional football team for a season. From his humble beginnings as a Nebraska boy, Darrell carved out a life for himself full of rewards.

Darrell's success as a head football coach for 38 years is evident by his induction into eight Halls of Fame, including the National College Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Recently, he was included in ESPN's list of "The 150 Greatest Coaches in College Football's 150-year History."

One of Darrell’s fondest memories was the time he spent coaching a group of South Omaha youth in the Pop Warner Midget football league. His undefeated 1951 Omaha team were city, state and conference champs and played for a national championship in Lake City, Florida. In 2001, Darrell joined former players in a 50th anniversary reunion of the football team held in Omaha in which nearly every former player attended.

Darrell was a true Renaissance man--a successful football coach who could quote Shakespeare as easily as he could call plays on a football field; a builder of winning football teams as well as a builder of houses (he built 9). He was an outdoorsman--an avid fisherman who navigated a life full of service to his community and family.

Darrell was also a scholar, earning his doctorate in education and writing a book based on research from his dissertation. His book, Freedom in the Huddle, The Creative Edge in coaching Psychology is credited by Nick Nurse (NBA championship winner and 2019-20 coach of the year) as playing a major role in his coaching style and success. Nick Nurse's book, Rapture, (published in 2020), devotes a chapter to his mentor, Darrell Mudra. Darrell's book, Freedom in the Huddle, was reprinted in 2021, with an introduction by Nick Nurse.

Retirement in Florida was good. Darrell enjoyed life with Jean, his wife of 70 years, watching sports; swimming in his lap pool (heated by solar panels he installed); living in a house that he built himself; enjoying pomelos, persimmons, kumquats, oranges, lemons, from fruit trees he planted; and gifting his four children and their families with fresh fish he caught and produce he planted was certainly his Shangri-La.

Darrell wanted to be remembered first as a good husband, parent and coach — in that order. His children were blessed to have a loving father who was a great role model, teaching them the value of a strong work ethic, the importance of integrity, and living by the golden rule.

Darrell will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Kawaguchi (Eitaro); sons, Steve (Anne) and Darrell, Jr. (Sandy); brothers, Emil “Moe” Mudra; and Rudy Mudra, (Carol); four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Michele; and wife, Jean; parents, Rudolph and Myrtle Mudra; and sisters, Shirley Johnson, Kathie Johnson, Mary Lou Blair, and Doloris Whitmore; brothers-in-law Max Johnson, Gentry Blair, William Whitmore; and sister-in-law Mary Mudra.

A private family service honoring Darrell’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Darrell’s memory to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CulleysMeadowWood.com for the Mudra family.