The Rush has hired Arena Football League veteran Gene Nudo as the team’s new president and general manager, the Rush announced today. Nudo replaces Ken Valdiserri who left the team last month.A Norridge, Ill, native, Nudo has more than 20 years of experience in the Arena Football League, serving as an assistant coach with the original Chicago Bruisers (1987-88); as the AFL’s vice president of football operations (1990-95); and as senior vice president, general manager and head coach of the Arizona Rattlers (1995-2007). Most recently, Nudo was general manager of the AFL’s Dallas Vigilantes, taking over the team midway through the 2010 season.

“We feel that we have an exceptional talent in Gene,” said Rush co-owner Bill Niro. “He has spent his entire career involved in the game of football, successfully working at every level from the league to the team. He brings drive, knowledge, leadership and a track record of success as he returns to his hometown of Chicago.”

“I am excited to return home to Chicago where I grew up and started my Arena Football career in 1987,” said Nudo. “It is my plan to help lead the Rush back to the ArenaBowl, and to build upon the great history the club has over these past nine years. Chicago is the home of Arena Football and it feels good to be back.”

Nudo is perhaps best known in AFL circles for his highly successful time in Arizona, where he helped build the Rattlers into one of the league’s premier franchises. Under his guidance, the team advanced to the ArenaBowl four times (1997, 2002, 2003, 2004), winning the 1997 title.In addition, the team was just as successful off the field, earning the Commissioner’s Award as the AFL’s best organization five-consecutive seasons from 1996-2000.His leadership of the Rattlers did not go unnoticed by AFL officials, who named Nudo the Arena Football League’s AFL’s Executive of the Year a record three times (1997, 1999, 2000). In 2002, Nudo received the AFL’s Founders Award (lifetime achievement) for his dedication to the sport.Before his time with Arizona, Nudo was an assistant coach and director of player personnel for the Bruisers team that advanced to the ArenaBowl II title game in 1988.Prior to his involvement in Arena Football, Nudo was a highly successful head coach with the River Grove Cowboys minor league football team. In his six years as the team’s coach, Nudo won five league championships and advanced to the Minor Professional Football Association’s national championship game three times, winning with an undefeated team in 1984.Nudo also spent three seasons (1989-91) as head coach at Driscoll Catholic High School in Addison, Ill. In his three seasons with the Highlanders, Nudo posted a 33-5 record and won the 1991 Class 3A state title, the first in the school’s history.Nudo is a member of the Chicago Metropolitan Football Hall of Fame, National Minor League Hall of Fame and the Driscoll Catholic High School Hall of Fame.