3/13/25

SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College head football coach Mark Duda has been recognized by the National Junior College Athletic Association as an honoree for the Coaches Legacy Awards presented by Nufabrx, according to a press release from the association earlier this week.
 
Duda is amongst the nearly 200 coaches honored from 28 different sports, nominated by the member colleges at which they coached.
 
"Being able to recognize our coaches, past and present, is a wonderful thing for the NJCAA, our member institutions, the coaches, and their families," said Dr. Chistopher Parker, NJCAA President and CEO in a statement released by the governing body.
 
Duda, already an NJCAA Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2018, is the all-time leader amongst active coaches with 213 victories in his 31 seasons coaching at Lackawanna College. All-Time, Duda is fourth in NJCAA history.
 
"Coach Duda's dedication to the game and his unwavering commitment to his student-athletes have left a lasting impact on our program and beyond," said Erik Larson, Director of Athletics at Lackawanna College. "Being named to the Coaches Legacy Award Honorees list is a well-deserved recognition of his leadership, passion, and lifelong contribution to the sport."
 
Under Duda, the Falcons have achieved five undefeated and untied regular seasons, while finishing above .500 in 27 seasons. He's a four-time conference coach of the year and was named the Junior College Football Coach of the Year in 2016 by the American Football Network. The Falcons have gone to 13 postseason bowls under Duda, including the 2019 NJCAA National Championship Game in Pittsburg, Kansas.
 
"It is truly an honor to receive this Coaches Legacy Award. I will always be grateful to everyone who allowed me to be a part of changing student-athletes' lives in a positive way," said Duda, entering his 32^nd season in charge of the Falcons for the fall 2025 campaign. "Nobody needs us more than our students do. The faces change, but the mission stays the same, and that is to be an example of consistency in an extremely inconsistent world."
 
Duda has produced over 400 NCAA Division I scholarship athletes, and he has helped develop and produce over 20 different players who have signed NFL contracts. Some of the notable Lackawanna College alumni that have made it to the NFL include College Football Hall of Famer Bryant McKinnie, wide receiver Kevin White, wide receiver Donald Jones, and running back Lorenzo Taliaferro. There are several Falcons still playing in the NFL, including safeties Jaquan Brisker (Chicago Bears) and Ji'Ayir Brown (San Francisco 49ers), offensive linemen Jermaine Eluemunor (New York Giants) and Mark Glowinski (Indianapolis Colts), linebacker Kyzir White (Arizona Cardinals), and free-agent tight end Trevon Wesco.
 
"For years, coach Duda has embodied the values of excellence, integrity, and mentorship," said Larson. "His influence extends far beyond the sidelines, shaping the lives of countless student-athletes. This honor is a testament to his enduring legacy in coaching."
 
According to the release from the NJCAA, this is the first time in the near 90-year history of the association, that coaches have been recognized in such a fashion.
 
All honorees will be recognized at a special luncheon on Tuesday, June 17^th, in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Hilton Charlotte University Place Hotel. The luncheon will precede the 2025 NJCAA Hall of Fame and Awards event, which will happen later that evening.
 
Duda is the only active football coach being honored, and he is one of ten Region XIX coaches to be named to this inaugural list.
 
The full release, with links to the honorees and more information, can be found on the NJCAA site HERE.