Walt Kichefski
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| Position: | End | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | June 17, 1916 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Rhinelander, Wisconsin | ||||||||
| Date of death: | January 9, 1992 (aged 75) | ||||||||
| Place of death: | South Miami, Florida | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Rhinelander (WI) | ||||||||
| College: | Miami (FL) | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1940 / Round: 22 / Pick: 197 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Receptions: | 30 |
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| Receiving yards: | 411 |
| Touchdowns: | 1 |
| Player stats at NFL.com | |
Walter Raymond Kichefski (June 17, 1916 – January 9, 1992) was a professional football player who played in the National Football League from 1940 to 1942 and again in 1944. Kichefski played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Steelers. The teams' merger was result of the manning shortages experienced league-wide due to World War II. He also served in the military during the war. His name is included on the NFL honor roll, which lists over 1,000 NFL personnel who served in the military during World War II.
He played college football at the University of Miami. He served as head coach there for the last 9 games of the 1970 season, guiding the team to a 2–7 record. He began his Miami coaching career in 1943 as line mentor. After playing the 1944 season with "Card-Pitt", Walt rejoined the Hurricanes and the team went on to win the 1946 Orange Bowl. He later became the head coach of Hurricanes in 1970, following Charlie Tate's resignation. He was later recognized by the school with the title "The Gator Hater", which was aimed at the rival University of Florida. During his time at Miami, Kichefski mentored future All-Americans Ted Hendricks, Bill Miller and Ed Weisacosky. He was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame in 1969.
The Walter Kichefski Football Award is named after Kichefski. The award is presented annually to the top scholar-athlete in the Miami football program.
This endowed scholarship was created in 1992, in the memory of beloved Hurricanes' Hall of Fame player and coach Walter Kichefski. $400,000 was initially raised to endow the scholarship, the only undergraduate award presented by the University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame.
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