Gilmour Hires Former All-Ohio Athlete as Associate AD and Assistant Football Coach

Sam Kukura, a two-time state champion at Kirtland High School, joins the Gilmour athletics department.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Sam Kukura, a 29-year-old former All-Ohio football player who helped lead Kirtland High School to two state championships, has been named the new associate athletic director and assistant football coach at Gilmour Academy in Northeast Ohio.

Why it matters

Kukura's hiring represents a homecoming for the accomplished athlete, who is returning to the region after most recently serving as a coach at the University of Pittsburgh. His experience and success at the high school and collegiate levels will be valuable assets to the Gilmour athletics program.

The details

In his new role, Kukura will assist the athletic director with administrative duties while also serving as an assistant coach for the Gilmour football team. Kukura was an All-Ohio player at Kirtland High School, where he was part of two state championship-winning teams.

  • Kukura was recently hired by Gilmour Academy.

The players

Sam Kukura

A 29-year-old former All-Ohio football player who helped lead Kirtland High School to two state championships and most recently served as a coach at the University of Pittsburgh.

Gilmour Academy

A private high school in Northeast Ohio where Kukura has been hired as the new associate athletic director and assistant football coach.

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The takeaway

Kukura's hiring represents a homecoming for the accomplished athlete, who is returning to the Northeast Ohio region to apply his experience and success at the high school and collegiate levels to the Gilmour athletics program.