50 Todd Svoboda

Todd Svoboda was born Todd Joseph Svoboda on September 14, 1971, in Middletown, Ohio. Raised in the Cincinnati area, Svoboda graduated from Princeton High School in 1989 after averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds as a senior. He shot 62 percent from the field, earned MVP honors in Cincinnati’s East-West All-Star Basketball Game and also distinguished himself in tennis and water polo, receiving All-State recognition in the latter sport. Athletics ran in the family: his father played tennis at Purdue, and his sister, Tammy, played basketball at Cincinnati and Stanford.

Svoboda began his college career at Northern Kentucky University in 1989 as part of a dual-degree program that allowed him to spend three years at NKU before transferring to Kentucky to complete a chemical engineering degree. The 6-foot-9 forward-center quickly developed into a dependable interior player for the Norse while pursuing the demanding academic program.

During his sophomore season at Northern Kentucky, Svoboda continued to establish himself as one of the program’s leading scorers and rebounders. He also competed in tennis, carrying forward the multi-sport background that had marked his high school career.

Svoboda enjoyed his finest collegiate season as an NKU junior in 1991-92, averaging 18.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. He completed his three-year Norse career with 1,114 points and 770 rebounds in 85 games while shooting 56.2 percent from the field. He also won a Great Lakes Valley Conference tennis championship at No. 5 singles.

After transferring to Kentucky for his senior year, Svoboda tried out for Rick Pitino’s nationally prominent Wildcats and earned a place on the 1992-93 team as a walk-on. He appeared in 13 games, scoring 24 points and collecting 17 rebounds in 38 minutes while shooting 10-for-16 from the field. More important than his numbers was the energy he brought to a team that finished 30-4 and advanced to the Final Four. His enthusiasm from the bench made him a Rupp Arena favorite, where chants of “We Want Todd” became a familiar sound during Kentucky victories. Pitino presented him with the team’s Sacrifice Award after the season.

Svoboda’s most memorable Kentucky moment came in the closing seconds of the Wildcats’ 106-81 victory over Florida State in the 1993 NCAA Southeast Regional final. With Kentucky’s trip to the Final Four secure, he entered the game and made the only three-point attempt of his UK career, providing a fitting exclamation point to the championship celebration. For a walk-on who regarded wearing “Kentucky” across his chest as the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, it was an unforgettable moment.

Svoboda completed his chemical engineering studies and built a career as an engineer with East Kentucky Power Cooperative. In 2014, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and received treatment through the University of Kentucky’s Markey Cancer Center. After several recurrences and complications, his right leg was amputated in 2024. With the support of his wife, Franci, their children, former teammates and the Big Blue Nation, Svoboda learned to use a prosthetic leg, resumed cycling and returned to his engineering work—displaying the same resilience and spirit that once made him one of Kentucky basketball’s most beloved walk-ons.