Joe Cichy

Cichy attended Shanley High School in his hometown of Fargo, North Dakota, where he was quarterback of the football team.^[4] He then attended North Dakota State University (NDSU).^[2] With the Bison football team, he was a backup quarterback in 1968 then a safety during the 1969 and 1970 seasons.^[2] The decision to move Cichy from quarterback to defensive back was made by Bison head coach Ron Erhardt following the loss of multiple defensive players from the 1968 team.^[5] The Bison were selected as small college national champions by the Associated Press for 1968 and 1969.^[2][b]

Cichy had 53 unassisted tackles during the 1969 season, setting an NDSU record that was not matched for 34 seasons.^[6] He was named to the College Division All-America first team as selected by the American Football Coaches Association for 1969,^[7] and as selected by the Associated Press for 1970.^[8] The Bison posted a record of 29–0–1 during his three seasons, and Cichy had completed his high-school career with a 25-game winning streak, resulting in a span of 55 games without a loss.^[2] He served as team captain for the 1970 Bison.^[6] In December 1970, Cichy was awarded a $1000 ($8,290 in 2025) post-graduate scholarship, awarded by the NCAA for "exceptional academic and athletic achievement."^[9] He graduated from NDSU in 1971 with a major in history and a minor in German.^[10]

Following his collegiate career, Cichy was unselected in the 1971 NFL draft, but was briefly with the Philadelphia Eagles during the offseason until being released in July 1971.^[11] He then returned to his high school, where his father was head football coach, and taught in the physical education department.^[12] In May 1973, he was hired by St. Mary's Central High School in Bismarck, North Dakota, to a similar role and to serve as head football coach.^[12] He coached there until resigning in April 1978 in order to attend law school.^[13]

By October 1981, Cichy had obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Dakota School of Law^[14] and was working for the North Dakota Water Commission as an assistant attorney general.^[15] He joined a private law firm in Bismarck in late 1985.^[16][17]

Cichy was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.^[2] He was inducted to the athletic hall of fame at NDSU in 1981,^[6] joining his father, Sid, a 1973 inductee.^[18] Joe's brother Nick was also inducted in 1988.^[19] Another brother, Steve, played for Notre Dame;^[2] Steve's son Jack Cichy played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.^[20][21] Joe Cichy was inducted to the hall of fame associated with his high school in 2017.^[22]

Cichy married Barbara Perry of Bismarck in June 1978.^[1] The couple had three daughters.^[23][14]