New documentary honors life of ASU football legend Frank Kush

A new documentary about the life of legendary football player and Arizona State University head coach Frank Kush airs Thanksgiving weekend on Arizona PBS.

Kush, who passed away in June 2017, was head coach for ASU for more than 20 years and won 176 games, more than any other head coach in the school’s history. The film brings to light Kush’s love for life and pursuit of athletic excellence through stories told by players and colleagues.

The film addresses the controversy surrounding Kush’s dismissal from ASU in 1979, when he was accused of harassment by one of his former players. After leaving ASU, Kush went on to coach for the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, after which he returned to the U.S. to coach the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts for the NFL.

Kush received many awards and honors throughout his career, including seven Western Athletic Conference championships, AFCA Coach of the Year Award and being a part of the 1952 College Football All-America team.

Kush was inducted into the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame in 1989, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995. The following year, ASU renamed its football stadium to Sun Devil Stadium, Frank Kush Field, and welcomed Kush back to the school. Kush worked for ASU’s athletic department until his death in 2017.

In 2015, Kush released his autobiography, “Frank Kush: The Incredible Life Story of a Coaching Legend in His Own Words.” Get a copy of the book here and support quality local programming on Arizona PBS.

“Kush” airs on Arizona PBS on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Other upcoming broadcasts for Thanksgiving weekend include “Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars,” “Eight Days a Week,” the story of the Beatles’ touring years, and “The Wrecking Crew,” an award-winning documentary about some of the most influential musicians of the 1960s and 1970s.

Arizona PBS is one of the country’s largest public television stations, reaching 1.9 million households each week on four digital channels and a website. The station has focused on fostering lifelong learning through quality programming, in-depth news and public affairs and critical educational outreach services. Arizona PBS is a member-supported community service of Arizona State University, based at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.