Koleduk heads to SSC Hall of Fame

This article appeared in the Tampa Tribune on Oct. 24, 2001.

By DAVE WALTERS

ST. LEO - Gulf boys soccer coach and former Saint Leo standout Sam Koleduk has one more honor to add to his already impressive soccer resume.

Koleduk, a two-time men's soccer All-American, has been elected to the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame.

The 1994 Saint Leo graduate will be inducted Feb. 27 along with three other former athletes who played in the league and one former coach.

``This was an honor richly deserved,'' said Saint Leo Athletic Director Fran Reidy, who also coached Koleduk. ``He was quite an offensive machine. He holds most of our school records. I am also proud that he is now coaching and teaching young soccer players at the club level and in high school.''

Koleduk played at Saint Leo from 1990 to 1994. The forward was chosen to the Division II All-America team in 1993 and 1994. He was chosen to the All-South Region Team all four years and made the All-Conference Team four times.

``I was totally surprised when I learned of this great honor,'' Koleduk said. ``I had great teammates at Saint Leo and a great coach in Mr. Reidy. They all deserve to be a part of this, because without my teammates and a great coach, I couldn't have accomplished anything.''

Koleduk holds the Saint Leo single-season record for goals with 34, total points with 77, shots with 100 and multiple-goal games with 11. He holds school career records for goals (77), total points (187), shots taken (326) and multiple-goal games (21).

A Gulf High graduate, Koleduk holds the NCAA Division II record for points in a match at 13 and goals in a match at six. He is among the Division II all-time single-season leaders for points per game (fifth at 4.23), points (seventh at 77), goals per game (fourth at 1.89) and total goals (fifth with 34).

Koleduk, who was inducted into the Saint Leo University Hall of Fame in 2000, is second on the all-time list in the Sunshine State Conference in career goals (77) and third all-time in the conference in career points (187).

``It was a tremendous honor being inducted into the Hall of Fame at Saint Leo, but to be inducted into the Conference Hall of Fame and see your name alongside 45 other athletes who played in this league the past 26 years, I just can't explain how that makes me feel.''

After college, Koleduk played professional soccer in the United States Soccer League, the Independent Soccer League, the National Professional Soccer League and the Eastern Indoor Soccer League. In addition to coaching soccer at Gulf High, he also coaches the West Pasco Soccer Club.