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Gulf Coast head coach Frank Tudryn talks to his players after the game on Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, in Naples. Gulf Coast defeated Lely, 31-25, in their last regular season game. David Albers/ Staff

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Gulf Coast High School head coach Frank Tudryn wraps up practice at football practice at Gulf Coast High School on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, in Naples. Tudryn is in his eight season as the Shark's head coach. David Albers/Staff

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GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

Frank Tudryn, center, talks to guests during a farewell party for him at the Delaney House in Holyoke June 16, 2000. Tudryn died Wednesday.

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Gulf Coast head football coach Frank Tudryn paces the sidelines at Ida Baker High School as his Sharks take on the Bull Dogs, Friday night, Oct. 9, 2009, in Cape Coral. / KEN LANE, STAFF

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GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

Frank Tudryn, center, talks to guests during a farewell party for him at the Delaney House in Holyoke June 16, 2000. Tudryn died Wednesday.

Frank Tudryn, the legendary Northampton High School football coach who had been fighting cancer for more than a year, died Wednesday in Naples, Fla.

Tudryn's funeral will be Sunday in Northampton.

A native of Florence, Tudryn, 62, coached the Northampton High School football team for 29 seasons, leading the program to several undefeated seasons, three Super Bowl appearances, and a Division 1 championship in 1986.

Tudryn worked at Northampton High School from 1971 to 2000, where he also had been a social studies teacher for 17 years, head track and field coach for 15 years, assistant principal for 10 years and interim principal for two years.

He left Northampton 10 years ago to become head football coach at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, where he also taught history and driver's education.

He had been diagnosed last year with esophageal cancer which had spread to his liver. Tudryn's declining health forced him to resign from his coaching position late last month.

Calling hours are from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Czelusniak Funeral Home of Northampton. The funeral will be held at noon Sunday on the athletics field at Northampton High School. Burial will be in Spring Grove Cemetery in Florence.

A longer story about the passing of Frank Tudryn will be posted Wednesday evening on GazetteNET.