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Chuck Cecil is in his 15th season as a defensive assistant coach in the NFL, fifth with the Rams organization.
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The Southern Arizona Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will feature former University of Arizona All-American and NFL defensive leader, Chuck Cecil as he keynote speaker at the 19th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet on Sun. April 17, in Tucson.
The event will take place at the Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park with the reception starting at 4:30 p.m.
One of the most respected defensive minds in football, Cecil has helped produce some of the National Football League’s best defenses and players as a long-time assistant in the Rams organization. A press release issued by the Southern Arizona Chapter of the NFF and CHF states: “Cecil has been a part of creating traditions of excellence and winning and is universally acknowledged as one of the premier leaders, teachers, and molders of young men in a team environment.”
Cecil is in his 15th season overall in the NFL as a coach, including his work with the Los Angeles Rams as the senior defensive assistant since 2012. Previously, Cecil served as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach with the Tennessee Titans.
A National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Inductee, Cecil was drafted by the Green Bay Packers and played nine years in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Oilers earning him multiple awards and a Pro Bowl Selection.
The University of Arizona walk-on played high school football at Hanford High School and finished his high school playing career at Helix High School in La Mesa, California, which won the state title and set a defensive school record for the fewest points allowed.
Chuck is married to college sweetheart whom he met 29 years ago, Carrie Gerlach Cecil. Carrie is the president of Social Media Sports Management and a best-selling author. The Cecils have one daughter, Charli Alleene (11), and three dogs, Wilbur, Zeus and Daisy.
“Off the field the Cecil family have dedicated their lives to God and to people in need,” the release states. “With a faithful and serving heart they give both financially and personally to others in their community as well as domestically and abroad.” For more on their charity endeavors visit Carrie’s Web site CarrieGerlachCecil.com.
CHUCK CECIL HONORS AND AWARDS:
NFF College Football Hall of Fame Induction (2010)
University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (1993)
NFL Pro Bowl Selection (1992)
All-Madden Selection (1991) Pac-10 Conference Medal winner (1988)
NCAA Today’s Top VI Award recipient (1988)
UPI, Football News, Kodak, Walter Camp and coaches All-America selection (1987) Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year (1987)
Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Decade (1980’s)
2-time All-Pac-10 first team (1986, 1987)
3-time All-Pac-10 All-Academic team (1985, 1986, 1987)
Academic All-America first team (1987)
2-time Academic All-America second team (1985, 1986)
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The mission of the Southern Arizona Chapter of the NFF-CHOF is to promote and develop leadership, character and academic excellence through amateur football. The Southern Arizona Chapter fulfills this mission, in part, by annually selecting ten graduating senior high school football players as recipients of the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award.
These Scholar-Athlete Honorees will be formally recognized at the 19th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet to be held on Sun., April 17, at 4:30 p.m. at The Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park.
[table “” not found /]These eleven outstanding young men are selected on the basis of stringent criteria focusing on academic scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement. One of the ten senior high school honorees, will be nominated for the National Football Foundation National High School Scholar-Athlete Award to be presented in December 2016 in conjunction with the 59th Annual National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
The Chapter, each year, also selects one University of Arizona graduating senior to be honored. This year’s honoree is placekicker Casey Skowron, who completed his eligibility in the fall.
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon.
