The Arizona Wildcats have a well-established tradition of seeing former athletes come back to Tucson to help out their alma mater in various ways. It's their way of giving back to the university that gave them thrills and memories to last a lifetime.
Arizona's nationally renowned basketball program practices in the Richard Jefferson Gymnasium. The baseball program, holders of four national championships, will soon do work at the Terry Francona Hitting Facility.
Others have given back in different ways.
Caitlin Lowe, one of the most decorated softball players in Arizona history, is currently an assistant coach for her former skipper,
Mike Candrea.
Rick DeMont, one of the top swimmers in the country in the 1970s, just completed a 30-year stint as a coach for the Arizona swimming program, both as the head coach and an assistant.
Now you can officially add another name to the list. Chuck Cecil, one of the greatest to ever put on an Arizona Wildcats football uniform, is back with the program he started with. Cecil, of course, joined the Wildcats program late last month as a senior defensive analyst for the Wildcats.
He was officially announced as a member of the staff on Friday, July 28, and joined the team for its first practice of the season three days later. Needless to say, the man who once appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the headline "Too Vicious for the NFL?" is thrilled to be back in the Old Pueblo.
"Anyone who doesn't think fairy tales don't come true; I'm standing right here," Cecil said after Friday's practice. "My time in Tucson was truly a Cinderella story. Anything I can do to help out as little as possible or as much as possible, I'm trying to give back for all the wonderful things that happened to me here."
Cecil, the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 1987, and a two-time All-Pac-10 selection, spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach in the NFL for the Tennessee Titans, St. Louis Rams and Los Angeles Rams. But after the Rams made a coaching change last season, Cecil started considering other options than the NFL.
"I've been pretty locked into the NFL for the last 15-17 years," Cecil said. "I was retired for a little while. This was the first real opportunity. When it opened, Coach (Rich) Rodriguez and I talked about it. I couldn't be more excited to be back and appreciative of coach for giving me an opportunity."
In his role, Cecil can't coach student-athletes on the field or in the film room. His biggest interactions will be with the coaches. He'll study and evaluate film, as well as give his input in scouting and gameplanning.
"Just having him around, what I call the veteran, seasoned eyes, will be great," Rodriguez said. "As he learns what we're doing in all three phases, offense, defense and special teams, he'll give more input. I told him to observe in practice, tell us things that could help us and we can go from there. He's a great guy, I'm glad he's here."
He's not the only one. Cecil is thrilled to be back on his college campus.
"I try to keep a low profile as much as possible, but I've been welcomed back with open arms," Cecil said. "The people of Tucson are wonderful, and I have love for them. I'm blessed to be back with my Wildcats."
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