The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Kwasniak appointed as Army Civilian Aide
Villa Angela-St. Joseph coach Babe Kwasniak calls the United States Army the greatest team in the world. Fifteen years after he was honorably discharged as a captain, the 1999 West Point graduate again has a role in the military.
Kwasniak was appointed as a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army by acting Secretary of the Army Kevin McCarthy. His appointment became official during an investiture ceremony at the Pentagon on Aug. 12 alongside six other appointees.
“It’s the biggest professional honor of my life,” Kwasniak said. “I’ve always considered myself a lot more than a basketball coach.”
CASAs function to promote good relations between the Army and public, and advise the Secretary on regional issues. Each state, the District of Columbia and five territories has at least one CASA appointed. CASAs serve two-year terms without compensation, and terms may be extended to a total of 10 years.
Kwasniak plans to promote the Army’s merit as a career path at colleges, universities and high schools throughout the region. Seven of his former players at VASJ went on to serve in the armed forces, most recently including 2019 Vikings graduate George Wilson and current West Point
student Jacob Stauffer.
“I don’t think of myself as a coach who used to be a soldier,” Kwasniak said, “but rather a soldier who now coaches.”
Kwasniak graduated West Point as an officer with a degree in geopolitics and was a captain at the time of his honorable discharge. He is also a board member for the Northeast Ohio Foundation for Patriotism. Kwasniak expects
his responsibilities to be personally fulfilling.
“It’s been a void in my life, to be honest,” Kwasniak said. “I’ve been out since 2004. There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t miss it. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss putting on the uniform. I think what they need from this job is someone to just talk about how excited they were to wear the uniform.”