CHAMP Sonny Lubick Coaching Award

SONNY LUBICK COACH OF CHARACTER AWARD

FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS

Public Service Credit Union

If you are interested in finding out more about corporate sponsorship or endowment opportunities for CHAMP, please contact Bob Parry, at coachparry@champfc.com...

Recognizing Coaches of Character

To reinforce the role of the coach in an athletic based character initiative, CHAMP recognizes Coaches of Character in the community. These coaches are those that have demonstrated in their coaching performance, on a sustained basis, the belief in character as integral to athletic success. Additionally, it is the intent of CHAMP to establish a CHAMP Coaches Hall of Fame, designed to recognize retired coaches in our community who committed themselves to teaching and demonstrating a high character standard throughout their coaching careers. The Sonny Lubick Coach of Character Award, commissioned in 2008, is the cornerstone CHAMP recognition program to acknowledge those coaches who have lived out the CHAMP mission.

Sonny Lubick Coach of Character Award Nomination Process

The Sonny Lubick Coach of Character Award is presented annually at the Breakfast of CHAMPions to one outstanding coach in the Fort Collins community who focuses on character development while teaching life lessons through sports. This coach has rejected the “win-at-all” model and is centered on helping players develop positive character traits that will enable them to be successful in life. Furthermore, this coach has helped to build a legacy of sportsmanship and character in athletics in the greater Fort Collins community.

In order for a coach to be eligible for this award, the individual must meet two criteria:

They must have 10 years of coaching experience in Northern Colorado
They must have or are coaching school, club or recreations sports for ages 18 and under

Sonny Lubick, the legendary former CSU football coach, is the namesake of the award and received the first award at the CHAMP Breakfast of CHAMPions in 2008. Sonny is considered a role-model for requiring character from his players and also encouraging the development of character traits through his personal example and interactions with his players.
In 2009 there were dual recipients, Rich Yonker, former Poudre High School athletic director and head football coach, and Hal Kinard, former Lincoln Junior High School coach. In 2010, former Fort Collins High School head football coach, Lyle Moddelmog was the Sonny Lubick Coach of Character recipient.

Past Winners

Sonny Lubick

Coach Sonny Lubick

2009 Sonny Lubick Winners

2009 Co-Winners Hal Kinard and Rich Yonker
with Sonny Lubick

Lyle Moddlemog

2010 Winner
Lyle Moddlemog

2012 Winner Craig Luckasen

2011 Co-Winners Earlie Thomas and Tom Davis

with Sonny Lubick

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I am very fortunate to have had an outstanding high school coach. He ran a character based program that taught me to always prioritize good character first. These character lessons have been fundamental to my success off the playing field and have stayed with me through my entire life.”

~ Tom Livingston, Livingston Real Estate and Development

“My family has been so happy and confident to participate in the Rookie league for the first time, primarily because Coach Ron Frasco’s Mustangs understand and practice true sportsmanship...The whole CHAMP program is to be applauded for encouraging, recognizing and celebrating excellence in the character leadership.”

~ Youth baseball club parent

"...I am putting my full support behind the CHAMP Elite Team Award...Please join me in developing these young athletes to their full character potential for success in every area of their lives..."

~ Sonny Lubick, former CSU head football coach

"In a 20-year study of 80,000 athletes ranging from high school, college and professional levels, researchers found that athletes are not as morally developed as the normal population. When faced with a moral issue, athletes respond differently from non-athletes..."

~ Tom Kuyper, Athletes in Training

“Our team’s emphasis on positive character has impacted far beyond just our players. It has extended out and impacted the whole school community. Players have worked to improve their character in all aspects of their life...”

~ CHAMP Elite Player

“The CHAMP Program has helped us strive for greatness and provided our team with a quality standard of what it means to have true character in athletics.”

~ 2008 CHAMP Elite Team Coach

"I’m very pleased with how the CHAMP program has influenced our basketball team. As a coach, I believe that class, hard work, sportsmanship, and teamwork are the most important qualities in a successful team...The CHAMP program has helped us strive for greatness and provided out team with a quality standard...”

~ Champ Middle School Coach

“My daughter plays basketball for Lincoln Junior High. I also coach football at Lincoln...I am more comfortable knowing that the CHAMP program is reminding players, parents and coaches that building character in a teen is more important than winning games.”

~ Champ Elite Program Parent

“The best part of having our team participate in this program is the pleasure we get from watching the girls...I think it helps build a stronger more cohesive community that I am proud to be a part of.”

~ Jenny Hubbard, Parent

“...Parents (are) more concerned about themselves and how good they look than what type of person their child will be...That is why I was so happy to hear about the CHAMP Commission and how this Program is being utilized in the schools.”

~ Soccer Mom

“As an official, it’s important that I see athletes who play with a positive attitude towards other teams, their teammates and officials and coaches. I’ve watched this team play a number of times. All the players do an exceptional job of not only exuding good sportsmanship when winning, but also when down in the score!”

~ Local Sports Official

“I have nothing but respect for the efforts that the coaches and the players have been putting forth...I thank Lincoln Junior High and CHAMP for helping to bring out the best in my son and many other students”.

~ Margaret Watson, Parent