On Saturday, March 30, San Francisco State Athletics Hall of Famer Frank Cheek passed away peacefully at the age of the 82.

After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and in the reserves, Cheek graduated from San Francisco State in 1963, where he wrestled and played baseball for the Golden Gators. Cheek was inducted into several hall of fames over the course of his career: the San Francisco State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991, the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003, the NFCA Hall of Fame in 2009, the Humboldt State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, the Ceres High School Hall of Fame in 2018, and the CCAA Hall of Fame in 2019. That same year, he was honored with a lifetime achievement award from HSU at halftime of a men's basketball game between the Golden Gators and Lumberjacks. Cheek earned two CCAA Coach of the Year awards (2009, 2013), the NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2013, and the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2008, capping Humboldt State's second title-winning season.

Cheek coached the Jacks' wrestling team to 270 wins, beginning in 1969. He also served as Humboldt State's director of athletics in 1981 and 1982. Cheek took the reins of the softball team in 1989, when the sport was reinstated after a five-year hiatus. In his 25 seasons at the helm of the softball program, Cheek's squads amassed an 1,148-361-2 mark, highlighted by four straight CCAA regular-season championships where the Jacks went on compete in the NCAA West Regional each season. Cheek took Humboldt State to the NCAA tournament 20 times as head coach, winning national championships in 1999 and 2008, while appearing in the championship game for a third time in 2013. Cheek retired after the 2013 national championship game appearance.

Cheek  was best known for his loyalty to his family, coaches and players, his competitiveness, and his ability to find humor in even the most difficult circumstances. Recently. he reflected on his life and said, "I'm not worried about dying. I'm going to a better place. I won't have any pain. I'll see some friends. I may see my mother and father. I'm kind of looking forward to it in a way. If I go tonight, don't weep for me. Say, 'Hey, he had a great run.' I love to sit in my den where I have team pictures from all my teams hanging on the wall. I remember when all these pictures were taken. I have a story about each face on each picture. My life is in the pictures in this room. I wonder if they will let me have this room in heaven?"
 
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Lou, his daughter Teresa, and his grandson, Sean. A Celebration of Coach Frank Cheek's Life will be held on Saturday, June 27 with details to follow.