Sonny Lubick will help raise money for numerous cancer and medical charities in the near future, but the former Colorado State football coach will not raise a dime for the athletic department.
Lubick, fired in November after 15 seasons as Rams coach, turned in his final paperwork Wednesday, a day before his deadline. In the process, he declined an offer to stay on as a fundraiser, a move indicative of the hard feelings he has about his exit.
A clause in his contract signed two years ago left Lubick the option of taking an “ambassador” fundraising position — at $75,000 a year — when he retired. Lubick was terminated when he refused to retire.
“I will not continue working in any capacity for the CSU athletic department,” Lubick said in a phone interview. “I have been approached by other fields. I have other things going on.”
Lubick, 108-74 at CSU, did not elaborate on a number of potential football-related options he is considering. He said he still doesn’t know whether he and his wife, Carol Jo, will remain in Fort Collins.
He does want to do everything to support the new Cancer Center of the Rockies and the Ramstrong Foundation his daughter, Michelle Boyle, started in 2006. His son Marc successfully battled a rare type of cancer two years ago.
After the messy departure, Lubick hinted he had no interest staying around CSU. After numerous public announcements by athletic director Paul Kowalczyk that the state of the Rams’ football program would be discussed after the season, Kowalczyk told Lubick he was being let go days before the season finale.
As a natural extension of his coaching duties, Lubick acted as the department’s chief fundraiser during his tenure.
“Sonny and everybody else knows he will always be a member of the Ram family,” Kowalczyk said Wednesday. “He’s made his decision. Everyone will certainly respect that and move forward. What he’s done is appreciated and honored and always will be.”
While he keeps his words measured out of respect for new coach Steve Fairchild and his staff, which includes a number of Lubick’s former players as well as his son Marc, emotion still tears into his voice when anyone raises the subject of Kowalczyk or CSU president Larry Penley.
“I wish Steve Fairchild all the best,” he said of his former offensive coordinator.
Lubick, who received $500,000 as part of the buyout, said he has been overwhelmed with cards and letters, as well as a congressional proclamation in his honor by U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, a CSU alum. Lubick lists his proudest achievement since being let go as “not fumbling Emma,” his baby granddaughter. He also has spent time on the phone trying to help his former assistants get jobs.
As for what he had in mind to turn around the program that plunged to 3-9 last season, Lubick said, “That’s water under the bridge.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
