Indiana University Athletics
Coachys Named Big Ten Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award Recipient
11/22/2023 3:30:00 PM | Football
ROSEMONT, Ill. – Indiana football letterwinner Richard Coachys was honored by the Big Ten Conference with the Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award on Wednesday (Nov. 22).
Coachys graduated from Indiana in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in business and an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. While at Indiana, Coachys earned three varsity letters playing both quarterback and safety. He returned to Indiana years later to receive his MBA in 1971.
The third Hoosier to receive the Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award, Coachys joins Antwaan Randle El (2018) and Doug Schlereth (2019) as winners of the award. Three Indiana football student-athletes have won the Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award, as well, with George Taliaferro (2011), Trent Green (2016) and Nate Sudfeld (2022) earning that distinction.
Between his undergraduate and MBA, Coachys served active duty for the Army becoming a Vietnam Veteran. He served a total of 34 years in the Army Reserves, rising to the rank of colonel, while earning the Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, combat infantry badge and the National Infantry Association's Order of St. Maurice "Primicerius" Award.
While serving time in active duty during the Vietnam Conflict, Coachys was accompanied by fellow IU teammate Ted Verlihay. Rich was honored to "accompany Ted home from Vietnam to his final resting place in Pittsburgh," and to honor him at a ceremony at Indiana's Memorial Stadium. Coachys and fellow IU football alumnus Harold Mauro established the Ted Verlihay Award in honor of their friend, which is presented annually to the IU football player who has demonstrated the best mental attitude and loyalty to the University football program.
Rich continued his football career, however this time on the sidelines at the Tennessee, Indiana, Southern Miss and Duke. He is currently President of Coachys & Associations and of LiteFighter Systems.
LiteFighter Systems is a family owned, VA certified, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that provides rugged, lightweight, versatile and highly mobile individual shelter systems and tactical gear for the US Military and the outdoor camping community. The organization develops pioneering products in military protection. Notably, the group's LiteFighter 1 Shelter System has become recognized as the emblem of military protection for U.S. soldiers around the globe, along with the creation of other military protection products.
The Ford-Kinnick Leadership and Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award, won in 2023 by former NFL All-Pro and All-American Dick Butkus, are part of the Big Ten's annual awards program. The Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award is named for Michigan's Gerald Ford and Iowa's Nile Kinnick. The Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award is named for Minnesota's Tony Dungy and Indiana's Anthony Thompson. For more information on these awards, including biographical information on the namesakes, visit bigten.org.
Coachys graduated from Indiana in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in business and an ROTC commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. While at Indiana, Coachys earned three varsity letters playing both quarterback and safety. He returned to Indiana years later to receive his MBA in 1971.
The third Hoosier to receive the Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award, Coachys joins Antwaan Randle El (2018) and Doug Schlereth (2019) as winners of the award. Three Indiana football student-athletes have won the Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award, as well, with George Taliaferro (2011), Trent Green (2016) and Nate Sudfeld (2022) earning that distinction.
Between his undergraduate and MBA, Coachys served active duty for the Army becoming a Vietnam Veteran. He served a total of 34 years in the Army Reserves, rising to the rank of colonel, while earning the Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, combat infantry badge and the National Infantry Association's Order of St. Maurice "Primicerius" Award.
While serving time in active duty during the Vietnam Conflict, Coachys was accompanied by fellow IU teammate Ted Verlihay. Rich was honored to "accompany Ted home from Vietnam to his final resting place in Pittsburgh," and to honor him at a ceremony at Indiana's Memorial Stadium. Coachys and fellow IU football alumnus Harold Mauro established the Ted Verlihay Award in honor of their friend, which is presented annually to the IU football player who has demonstrated the best mental attitude and loyalty to the University football program.
Rich continued his football career, however this time on the sidelines at the Tennessee, Indiana, Southern Miss and Duke. He is currently President of Coachys & Associations and of LiteFighter Systems.
LiteFighter Systems is a family owned, VA certified, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) that provides rugged, lightweight, versatile and highly mobile individual shelter systems and tactical gear for the US Military and the outdoor camping community. The organization develops pioneering products in military protection. Notably, the group's LiteFighter 1 Shelter System has become recognized as the emblem of military protection for U.S. soldiers around the globe, along with the creation of other military protection products.
The Ford-Kinnick Leadership and Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award, won in 2023 by former NFL All-Pro and All-American Dick Butkus, are part of the Big Ten's annual awards program. The Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award is named for Michigan's Gerald Ford and Iowa's Nile Kinnick. The Dungy-Thompson Humanitarian Award is named for Minnesota's Tony Dungy and Indiana's Anthony Thompson. For more information on these awards, including biographical information on the namesakes, visit bigten.org.
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