Eugene "Chick" Cichowski

He was more than a coach. A truly special man who taught you about life through the game of football. Very grateful I had the chance to learn from him.

Was hoping to wish you a happy birthday, but it was not meant to be. God Speed, Angel. Deanie

Never in my wildest dreams when I was 17 or 18 running "ladder" sprints at double sessions on August days when it was 90 degrees with 100% humidity did I think for a second that I'd ever be thankful to the man that was yelling at me and pushing me to work harder, run faster and quit dogging it, but it happened. Chick was the best teacher of "life" that I ever had. Over the past few years, I was lucky enough to join Richie and Odie and a few others to have dinner at Hackneys with Chick and I got to tell him how thankful I was for the lessons he taught me way back when, and how those lessons carried me through the rest of my life.
Thank you to the Cichowski family for sharing him with all of us.

Still grateful for this very tough but wonderful coach. God be with Coach Cichowski and his family. NTE '68

I worked with Chick in the state football coaches association
for many years as officers, I always looked forward to our trips
down to Champaign for meetings. We talked football going down and coming back, he had great stories and helpful insights. I always
admired him and looked up to him, we have lost a legend. R.I.P.

He was the best coach that I ever had but I did not realize it until I was in my 40s. His words still resonate with me today.

Dear Tim and Family,

Your dad was a great coach and mentor and role model to so many. I know too you did a fine job of caring or him during his difficult years....

With sympathy.

Coach Bob Schoenwetter, GBS

Coach Cichowski was a great man, who made a tremendous impact on all of us who played for him. I´ve drawn on the lessons he taught us throughout my life.

My heartfelt condolences to the Cichowski family for your loss.

Chick Cichowski was a great guy. I was fortunate to be part of an extraordinarily lucky group to have played for Coach Chick Cichowski at NTE. He was indeed a legend, an incredible football psychologist and motivator who taught us how important leadership, work ethic, attention to detail, and humility were in chasing excellence. Add in a sense of humor while doing it: nobody could do a film session like Chick Cichowski.

In his heart, Chick was a great teacher; in fact, in a school full of great teachers, he was one of the best two or three I had at NTE. None in college came even close.

Many of my teammates will agree with me when I say that his impact on our lives goes well beyond football. And with the benefit of many years of hindsight, it has been enormous. He had the unique ability to draw something out of us that we never knew we had. What an incredible lessen to teach young people; with just that one thing, he taught us so much.

We should all be so lucky in our lives to have achieved the impact he had on so many others. What a remarkable life Chick Cichowski had!

Thanks for everything you did for us, Coach. We´ll never forget you. We´ll try to be better next week, the week after that, and the week after that.

You´re back with Toots, now. Rest in peace.

In both word and deed, Coach was a true leader of men. Sincere condolences to the entire Cichowski family.

Chick, thanks for all you have done for your players, students and coaches. Your contributions to Illinois football will never be forgotten. Rest in peace Coach

RIP to an NT legend. Never to be forgotten. RIP Chick. It was good to have known you.

The only time Chick had an advisory, I was in it (NTW '68). I then worked for Chick as the video coach for football the last 3 years he was coaching at NT. What I remember is his work ethic and strive, which he tried to instill in every student and athlete he had.