Gary Theodore Wichard (pronounced ''Wish-hard''; March 24, 1950, in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

– March 11, 2011, in

Westlake Village, California Westlake Village is a city in Los Angeles County, California, on its western border with Ventura County. Upon its incorporation in 1981, Westlake Village became the 82nd municipality of Los Angeles County.Baker, Pam (2002). ''Thousand Oaks We ...

) was a college football player and professional

sports agent A sports agent is a legal representative (hence agent (law), agent) for professional sports figures such as athletes and coaches. They procure and negotiate employment and Testimonial, endorsement contracts for the principal (commercial law), at ...

."Suspended NFL Agent Gary Wichard Dies At 60" ''NBC-17''
October 26, 2011

Early life and football career

Wichard was Jewish, and was raised in

Glen Cove, New York Glen Cove is a Political subdivisions of New York State#City, city in Nassau County, New York, Nassau County, on the North Shore (Long Island), North Shore of Long Island, New York (state), New York, United States. The city's population was 28,3 ...

, and attended

Glen Cove High School Glen Cove High School, commonly referred to as GC, or GCHS, is the only public high school in the Glen Cove City School District. Located at 150 Dosoris Ln., Glen Cove, on the North Shore of Long Island, GCHS sits upon of land. The current bu ...

. He later lived in

until he died on March 11, 2011. In college, Wichard was a two-time

All-American The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...

quarterback at C.W. Post College. After the 1971 season, he received a

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy ( ; also known simply as the Heisman) is awarded annually since 1935 to the top player in college football. It is considered the most prestigious award in the sport and is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust followin ...

vote. He was the first C.W. Post player to be named an All-American by both the Associated Press and Kodak. He was also invited to the

Senior Bowl The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football all-star game played annually in late January or early February in Mobile, Alabama, which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those players who have completed their college eligibility. Pr ...

All Star Game. He set school career records in the areas of passing yardage and touchdown passes. In 2011, he was ranked third all-time in career passing yards with 5,373. Wichard was drafted in the 16th round by the

Baltimore Colts The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983, when owner Robert Irsay moved the franchise to Indianapolis. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breeding and racing. It w ...

in the 1972 NFL draft.

Sports agent career

Wichard entered the sports agent business working for sports agent Irwin Weiner. Wichard recruited Colts running back

Don McCauley Donald Frederick McCauley Jr. (born May 12, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a running back for the Baltimore Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tarhe ...

and hockey player

Jean Potvin Jean René Potvin (March 25, 1949 – March 15, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, ...

for Weiner, and then set off on his own. He founded Pro Tect Management Corporation in 1979. Among his first clients were Rob Carpenter of the New York Giants and

Richard Todd Richard Andrew Palethorpe-Todd (11 June 19193 December 2009) was an Irish-British actor known for his leading man roles of the 1950s. He received a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male, and an Academy Award for Best Actor n ...

and

Mark Gastineau Marcus Dell Gastineau (born November 20, 1956) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 10 seasons with the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). During his NFL career, he was named Defensiv ...

of the New York Jets. He also represented

Brian Bosworth Brian Keith Bosworth (born March 9, 1965), nicknamed "the Boz", is an American actor and former professional football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. A two-time Dick But ...

Keith Jackson Keith Max Jackson (October 18, 1928 – January 12, 2018) was an American sports commentator, journalist, author, and radio personality, known for his career with ABC Sports (1966–2006). While he covered a variety of sports over his caree ...

Terrell Suggs Terrell Raymonn Suggs (born October 11, 1982), nicknamed "T-Sizzle", is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for 17 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State ...

of the Baltimore Ravens,

Dwight Freeney Dwight Jason Freeney (born February 18, 1980) is an American former professional football player who played as a defensive end and linebacker for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), most notably as a member of the Indianapolis Col ...

of the Indianapolis Colts,

Keith Bulluck Keith J. Bulluck (born April 4, 1977) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for eleven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Syracuse Orange, he was selected by t ...

of the Tennessee Titans, Chris Cooley of the Washington Redskins,

Jimmy Clausen James Richard Clausen (born September 21, 1987) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) from 2010 to 2015. He played college football for the Notre Dame F ...

of the Carolina Panthers,

Elvis Dumervil Elvis Kool Dumervil (born January 19, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals, ...

of the Denver Broncos,

Darren Sproles Darren Lee Sproles (born June 20, 1983) is an American professional football executive and former running back. He is now a personnel consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for th ...

of the San Diego Chargers,

Antonio Cromartie Antonio Cromartie Sr. (born April 15, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected in the first ...

of the New York Jets, C. J. Spiller of the Buffalo Bills, and Jason Taylor of the Miami Dolphins.

NCAA violations

Wichard was suspended by the

NFL Players Association The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is the labor union representing National Football League (NFL) players. The NFLPA, which has headquarters in Washington, D.C., is led by executive director Lloyd Howell Jr. and president J ...

in December 2010 for having "impermissible communication" with then-college player

Marvin Austin Marvin Austin Jr. (born January 1, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was selected by the New Yor ...

, and was investigated by the

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

regarding his friendship with John Blake. Austin was dismissed from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill football team in October 2010; Blake resigned as the team's assistant coach in September 2010. In March 2012, Blake received a three-year

show-cause penalty In the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), a show-cause penalty is an administrative punishment ordering that any NCAA penalties imposed on a coach found to have committed major rules violations will stay in effect against that coach ...

from the NCAA after the organization determined he had received personal loans from Wichard in exchange for access to UNC players. The penalty effectively barred Blake from college coaching during that period.

Halls of Fame

In 2001, Wichard was inducted into the

National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, in Commack, New York, is dedicated to honoring American Jewish figures who have distinguished themselves in sports. Its objective is to foster Jewish identity through athletics, and to commemo ...

. Wichard was also inducted into the C.W. Post Athletic Hall of Fame.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Wichard, Gary 1950 births 2011 deaths LIU Post Pioneers football players 20th-century American Jews American sports agents Deaths from pancreatic cancer Sportspeople from Glen Cove, New York Players of American football from Nassau County, New York Players of American football from Westlake Village, California 21st-century American Jews Glen Cove High School alumni Jewish American players of American football