Sean Kugler’s son earns second team Academic All-America honors at Purdue

Purdue center Robert Kugler has been named second team CoSIDA Academic All-America.

The prestigious recognition is the first for a Purdue football player since former linebacker Joe Holland garnered first team honors in 2011.

Kugler graduated last May with a 3.85 cumulative GPA and a double major in history and political science. He is enrolled in graduate school classes this fall.

Kugler, the son of UTEP head football coach Sean Kugler, is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn.

Kugler was a mainstay on the Purdue offensive line during his career with 43 consecutive starts at center and was twice voted a captain by his teammates.

In addition to being a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District V honoree, he has been named Academic All-Big Ten and a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar-Athlete each of the last three years. He was named to the Dean’s List (3.5-4.0 cumulative GPA) all eight semesters as an undergraduate student.

Kugler will play in the East/West Shrine Game on Jan. 23, 2016, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Purdue University Bio

2014: Academic All-Big Ten … Academic All-District 5 … team captain … started all 12 games at center.

2013: Team offensive MVP … Academic All-Big Ten … started all 12 games at center.

2012: Academic All-Big Ten … appeared in all 13 games, starting the final seven … moved from tight end to center in spring drills.

2011: Did not play.

High School: Listed as the No. 9 tight end in the nation and a four-star prospect by Scout.com … ranked as the No. 21 tight end nationally by ESPN.com … rated as the No. 28 player in Pennsylvania by Rivals.com … named the 2010 PIAA Class AAAA Pennsylvania Player of the Year by the Associated Press … caught two passes for 15 yards (7.5 average) as a senior at North Allegheny High School … also played defensive end, racking up 67 tackles, including 37 solo stops, and 7.0 sacks … had an interception, three passes defended and recovered a fumble … named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 team and was first team PIAA Class AAAA All-State selection … 2010 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 … 2010 Pennsylvania Football News AAAA All-State at tight end … Pennsylvania Sports Writers first team All-State selection … transferred to North Allegheny from Orchard Park (N.Y.) High School where he helped guide the school to a 31-3 record over three years and the 2008 NYS Class AA state title … finished junior season at Orchard Park with 15 receptions at tight end and 81 tackles, 5.0 sacks and three forced fumbles playing defensive end … named to the 2009 All-Western New York Football Team by The Buffalo News … coach was Art Walker at North Allegheny and Gene Tundo at Orchard Park.

Personal: Given name is Robert Anthony Kugler … born Dec. 11, 1992 … double major in political science and history who graduated in May of 2015 … father, Sean, is the head coach at UTEP.