Extensions

Coach Mike Gottfried Named Mobilian of The Year

The Cottage Hill Civitan Club has named Team Focus Founder Mike Gottfried as the 2010 Mobilian of the Year.

As Mobile’s most prestigious civic honor, the Mobilian of the Year award has been given annually since 1948 to an individual who has made an extraordinary, positive impact on the Mobile community.

Gottfried, who spent 12 successful seasons as a college football coach, is known as one of television’s most respected game analysts. Since 1990, he’s served as an ESPN college football analyst for ESPN’s Saturday Primetime telecasts. In 2000, Mike founded Team Focus, a comprehensive community outreach program for boys without fathers. Since then, more than 2,000 fatherless young men have been served, and the chapters have grown throughout the United States.

The Mobilian of the Year banquet will be held on Thursday, April 7, at the USA Mitchell Center. A cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m.

Randall “Randy” Eckhoff, Mobilian of the Year chairman for the Cottage Hill Civitan Club, said the Civitan Club is excited about the 2010 Mobilian of the Year award program.

“The Cottage Hill Civitan Club is excited to have Mr. Mike Gottfired as the Mobilian of the Year for 2010,” Eckhoff said. “Mr. Gottfried has promoted the City of Mobile for many years while working with ESPN TV as sports announcer for 18 years. He was one of the founders of the GoDaddy.com Bowl, formerly the GMAC Bowl.

“He has influenced thousands of young men as a football coach. He is now doing the same with Team Focus, which offers guidance and mentors to boys across the country. The program helps give them a sense of self-worth.”

Banquet tickets are available by contacting Cottage Hill Civitan Club President and MOY Chairman Randy Eckhoff at (251) 666-1973 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . A portion of the proceeds from the ticket sales will be donated to Team Focus.

The Cottage Hill Civitan Club has worked with many local charities over the years. The group supports Augusta Evans Special School and the school’s Special Olympics Weight-Lifting Team. It has also given time and resources to the Mulherin Home, United Cerebral Palsy's Camp Smile, MobileARC, Penelope House and Wilmer Hall Children's Home. The group also sponsors Junior Civitan clubs at local area high schools, training the next generation in civic involvement.

Since 1948, area Civitan clubs have championed civic involvement through the Mobilian of the Year award, the most prestigious and longest-running award in the region.