The Cache Valley community lost one of its most beloved figures on the night of May 12, 2026, when Dave Kuresa passed away.
A former Utah State University offensive lineman and a longtime high school football coach, Kuresa spent decades shaping young men on and off the field.
The outpouring of grief from former players, colleagues, and families in the days following his death painted the picture of a man whose influence stretched far beyond any football field.
Kuresa played offensive guard at Utah State University, where he earned a place on the program’s All-Century team, a recognition reserved for the finest players in the history of the program.
After his playing days ended, he turned his energy toward coaching at the high school level, eventually becoming a fixture at Mountain Crest and later Ridgeline High School.
He is survived by his sons Jake and Alex Kuresa, both of whom were standout players at Mountain Crest before going on to play college football at BYU, a testament to the football culture their father helped build at home and in the community.
A Coach Who Became Family
For those who knew Dave Kuresa well, no title captured him completely. He was a coach, yes, but more accurately, he was family to dozens of people who never shared his last name.
The Damuni family of Cache Valley experienced this firsthand over the course of 30 years.
When they were preparing to move back to the valley, the Kuresa family opened their home to Waqa Damuni for several months until he could find a place to live. Dave personally helped him locate the home where the family would eventually settle.
From that point forward, Kuresa became a constant presence in the Damuni household, known affectionately by the children as Uncle Dave.
Val Damuni recalled that he was her first call whenever her sons got into trouble at school or skipped seminary. He was a voice of reason in moments that called for one, and he never made anyone feel like a burden for needing him.
One memory stood out among many. When her daughter Lusi chose her favorite teacher to be honored at a school volleyball game, she selected Uncle Dave, the football coach from Ridgeline.
Running short on time, Lusi arrived at the ceremony without a gift for him, feeling embarrassed. Dave, in his quiet and generous way, showed up that night carrying treats for her instead, becoming the only honoree anyone could remember who came bearing a gift for the student honoring him.
A Legacy That Endures
Vic Saunders, writing on social media, noted that Kuresa was a member of the Utah State All-Century team, describing him as an outstanding offensive guard.
A former assistant coach who worked alongside him at Mountain Crest nearly four decades ago remembered him simply as a good man. Those two descriptions, outstanding and good, seem to sum up the two halves of a life well lived.
Dave Kuresa spent his years building things that lasted: football programs, young men, friendships, and families. Cache Valley will not soon forget him.
