After serving four years in the United States Marine Corps, Frank Cheek attended San Francisco State from 1963-67. While at San Francisco State, he participated in baseball and wrestling. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and earned a master’s degree in physical education. In addition, he has a Secondary Administration Credential and a Secondary Teaching Credential.
After graduating, Cheek taught five years at Ceres High School. He joined the staff at HSU in 1969 as the wrestling coach. Cheek was a legendary coach at Humboldt State until his retirement in 2013. His success story was illustrated by a total of 1,409 career victories — an 1,148-361-2 mark in softball and 261 more wins as wrestling coach. He also served as athletic director.
In December 2009, Cheek received the highest honor a softball coach can achieve. He was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame, becoming just the 50th coach to be so honored.
HIs softball teams won two national championships, advanced the NCAA postseason 19 of 25 seasons and captured the West Region title six times. The Lumberjacks won 19 conference championships under the 13-time conference coach of the year.
In one of his championship seasons, in 2008, Cheek's coaching staff was honored as the NFCA coaching staff of the year. The Lumberjacks went a perfect 8-0 at the NCAA Championships in 1999 to earn the NCAA Championship.
Before taking over the Humboldt softball program, Cheek coached the Arcata High School softball team for five years. While at Arcata, his team won four league titles and made five section appearances.
Cheek, who coached wrestling for 22 seasons at Humboldt State, is the winningest coach in school history. Cheek’s athletes won a total of 46 All-America awards from the NCAA, including five individual national championships. Cheek was inducted to the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.
Coach Cheek passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 30, 2020 at the age of 82.
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