In Tribute: Eugene ‘Chick’ Cichowski remembered as a New Trier legend

“His commitment to excellence, integrity and mentorship created a lasting impact that transcends the realm of sports. His spirit and teachings will live on in the hearts of those he touched.”

The words are those of Chuck Swirsky, a man for all seasons currently working as the Bulls’ play-by-play announcer. But Swirsky wasn’t talking about the Bulls’ coach, Billy Donovan — who on April 3 was designated for Induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2025; he was talking about Eugene “Chick” Cichowski, who died in March at 90 years old and who coached the New Trier football team from 1971 until his retirement in 1990 before his 1992 induction into the Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

During Cichowski’s 20-year-career, the Trevians had a 145-47-1 record. His 1973 team was undefeated and his 1982 team, which lost the IHSA Class 6A championship game to Reavis, has the distinction of being the only New Trier football team ever to play for the state title.

A memorial Mass was offered at St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge on April 2 and a celebration of his life will be held from noon to 3 p.m.on Friday, May 16, at Fairway Banquet Hall in Niles.

The tributes of former players in the legacy ledger of Wheeling’s Kolssak Funeral Home emphasize the role Cichowski played in countless lives.

“I was fortunate to be part of an extraordinarily lucky group to have played for Coach Chick Cichowski at New Trier,” wrote Tom Elia, class of 1978. “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.”

“Coach Cichowski was a great man who made a tremendous impact on all of us who played for him,” wrote Doug Greenberg, class of 1984.

According to his online obituary, he was husband to the late Mary Ann “Toots” Cichowski; father of Ted (Patra), Tammi Cichowski, Tim (Kristin) Cichowski, Tinna Plueger, Traci (Brian) Johnston, and the late Terri (Charles) Kvistad; dear Opa of Madison (Adam), Cathryn, Makena, Payton, Turner, Kaalea, Clay, Cole, Carl (Caitlin), Caitlyn, Jake, Taylor, and Teagan. Great Opa of Remi and Owen; fond brother of the late Edward (late Alice) Cichowski and Alex (late Lois) Cichowski; and loving uncle, cousin, and friend to many.

‘The biggest game’

Retired Chicago Sun-Times prep writer Taylor Bell, whose long and distinguished career began at the Chicago Daily News in 1968, remembers the 1973 game between New Trier and Evanston as an Illinois high school gridiron classic.

In Bell’s educated opinion: “That was the biggest game Chick Cichowski ever coached. To those people, New Trier and Evanston was like Michigan and Ohio State, the Bears and Green Bay, Duke and North Carolina, and I think their football rivalry of more than 100 years hit its high point in that game. In those (pre-playoff) days, it was the last game of the season. Both were undefeated going into it.”

Evanston was coached by the late Murnee Lazier, an iconic name in Illinois high school football who retired in 1974 with six unbeaten seasons adorning his resume.

“Cichowski was getting started and Lazier was winding it down,” continued Bell.

“New Trier had Clay Matthews Jr., the biggest name and greatest player Cichowski ever coached and Evanston had Matt Kenn. In college they played against one another in the Rose Bowl — Matthews for Southern Cal and Kenn for Michigan. Matthews was the 12th pick in the NFL draft and Kenn was the 13th pick. Both of them had outstanding NFL careers and they played together for one season with the Atlanta Falcons.

“They called the ’73 game the Mud Bowl; the field at New Trier was just a quagmire. New Trier won it 3-0 on a field goal by a kid named Tim Hall. That was the shining moment of Cichowski’s coaching career.”

Going way back

But the wins and losses only scratch the surface of what Eugene “Chick” Cichowski accomplished in life.

“It is clear that Chick Cichowski will be remembered not just as a fabulous coach but as a remarkable human being who made the world a better place through sports,” Swirsky wrote in a tribute on Twitter in the immediate aftermath of the Northbrook man’s death at age 90 on March 24.

Before becoming the head coach at New Trier East, Cichowski worked as an assistant football, track and wrestling coach at New Trier West.

“He was the best coach I ever had,” Gary Kagan, New Trier West class of 1968, wrote. “His words still resonate with me today.”

Cichowski grew up in Chicago and went to Lane Tech High School before going to Indiana University, where he quarterbacked the Hoosiers and was their Most Valuable Player in 1955.

He was selected in the 21st round of the 1957 NFL draft by Pittsburgh. Converted to defensive back, he spent that season with the Steelers and then went to the Washington Redskins for whom he played in 1958 and 1959. He concluded his professional career by playing for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, in 1960 as an outside linebacker and in 1961 back at quarterback.

Cichowski also spent time playing semi-pro football in the American Football Association and his accomplishments prompted his 2009 induction into the AFA Hall of Fame.

His coaching and teaching career began at Lane Tech, and he had a brief stint as an Indiana assistant before coming to New Trier.

Following his retirement from New Trier, he resurfaced in the NFL by doing some scouting for the Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets.

The end of Cichowski’s coaching career didn’t end his involvement with New Trier.

He was one of the inaugural inductees in the New Trier Athletic Hall of Honor in 2019, and the New Trier Coaches’ Award, described by current Trevians head coach Brian Doll as “our most prestigious award” in the football program, bears his name.

Doll told Mike Clark of the Sun-Times that when Cichowski was in his 80s he still was showing up at New Trier practices.

“We always loved having him come back and talk to the team,” Doll said. “The thing I loved (was that) the guy had a smile on his face when he was around football. You realized how much football meant to him.”

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