Lubick settling into life after football

New responsibilities for ex-Rams coach

By Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 22, 2008 at 12:06 a.m.
Updated August 22, 2008 at 8:39 a.m.

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Photo by Chris Schneider / The Rocky

Former Colorado State football coach Sonny Lubick is doing public-relations work for a credit union and is opening a steakhouse.

Those pangs that Sonny Lubick had in his stomach earlier this month are starting to dissipate.

For the first time in more than four decades, Lubick wasn't on a football field for the start of preseason practice.

Lubick, head coach at Colorado State for 15 years, was relieved of his duties in November after winning 108 games, capturing or sharing six conference titles and playing in nine bowl games.

The field at Hughes Stadium is named after Lubick, who grew into a popular Colorado icon during his days coaching the Rams.

"I can remember that first day when practice started, we were just leaving town," he said. "It was coincidence, nothing else, but I talked to several of last year's coaches that got jobs. They either called me or I called them. And then I kind of felt the pang.

"I'd been doing this for 47 years. I've been on the field at this time of year hollering at somebody as an assistant or head coach. Yeah, it's something to get over, but when your driving to Montana or flying to California, your thoughts go to something else."

Lubick and his wife, Carol Jo, have been busy traveling to Montana and Southern California to help their mothers. Lubick also has been working since April as vice president of community outreach for Public Service Credit Union. And in October, the Sonny Lubick Steakhouse will open in Fort Collins' Old Town.

Lubick also spends time helping Carol Jo and his daughter, Michelle Boyle, secure sponsorships and money for the Ramstrong Foundation that raises money to help patients who can't afford cancer treatment. He also helps his wife in aiding the Poudre Valley Hospital cancer treatment and research center.

"Both Carol Jo and I have been focused on a lot of other things," Lubick said. "I didn't intend it to be that way, because I didn't know what would happen after Thanksgiving. Then April came along and, bang, bang, bang, you have a little thing here and there."

EIGHT QUESTIONS FOR

Sonny Lubick

Former Colorado State University head football coach.

1How have you adjusted to not coaching?

"I see something on television or see a clip in the paper, so you do have pangs of anxiety. Sometimes, I get up early and work out about 6. I used to head to the practice field or office at 6 a.m., and now I go to the workout gym. But with each passing day and being involved with other areas, I'm adjusting."

2What do you miss about coaching?

"You miss the memories, the players and coaches. You miss the friendships and relationships. The best part of my job is when you bring a young guy in as a 17- or 18-year-old, bright-eyed, to watch him after four years be a whole different person is rewarding. It'll be interesting to see how I feel on Saturdays and Fridays, because I was getting on the airplane a lot for the past 30 or so years."

3What do you not miss about coaching?

"I do not miss when you get home at 3 in the morning from a Saturday game and you go in at 8 o'clock in the morning and work all day Sunday until about 10 o'clock at night."

4Will you watch college football games this season?

"I wonder how that will work, because I've never had that opportunity. Matt, my oldest boy, is coaching at Arizona State. I'm hoping we can get down to Arizona State for at least two or three games this season."

5Will you watch your son Marc (CSU's tight ends coach) and CSU any this season?

"We'll try to follow Marc as best we can, but it will be hard to attend a game. I'm not happy with the administration the way it all happened at the end without even a thank you. We'll watch Marc and support all the coaches, because I know most of them. But as far as me going to any games, you go and you are more of a distraction."

6What are your duties with the credit union?

"They gave me a nice office here in Fort Collins in one of the branches. I go in there and answer some phone calls and do a little public relations. I'll attend some golf tournaments, and I have some speaking engagements.

"I'll go and spend a half-day in each of the branches and say hello to the customers, sign a miniature football for them or something like that. I enjoy meeting all the people. It's amazing all the people that come up to you, say 'hello' and 'thank you.' "

7Are you excited about the Sonny Lubick Steakhouse?

"I think I get dumber in my old age. Here a lot of restaurants are closing, and we're opening one up. I don't know if that's smart or not. I'm involved in it and have a share of it.

"We have 20-plus investors. I figured if each one of us goes down and eats there once a month, we can make it go that way. I have no expertise in that, but my job will be about the same. I'll go down, shake some hands, meet people, and they'll have some memorabilia from Colorado State as well and Stanford and the University of Miami."

8Are you the Dealin' Doug of Fort Collins, and why are you still doing commercials for Pedersen Toyota?

"I would, off and on over the last 15 years, do a commercial. So I still do a commercial for them. It's sort of my way of thanking them for being good to Colorado State and me personally. I enjoy doing that for them. I haven't seen the commercials, but I'm no Dealin' Doug."

• August 22, 2008

  10:22 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Squatch writes:

  I will be visiting the Sonny Lubick Steakhouse I just hope its cheaper than Elways.

• August 22, 2008

  1:02 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  halecsu writes:

  As will i. Im glad Sonny is staying in the Fort Collins area.

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