Already Legendary
Western Oregon former standout Cam Frickey is rocking football, and life, in Europe
Salem, Oregon born, Bend High School and Western Oregon graduate Cam Frickey received a Lifetime Achievement Award this month for his success as a player and coach for an American football team based in Vienna, Austria.
The honor bestowed by the President of the Vienna Vikings football club was for Frickey’s outstanding career first as a player for the men’s team from 1999-2003—and also for his outstanding—and ongoing—success as coach of the other Vienna Vikings team—the juggernaut of women’s football in the nation of Austria.
Cam is just the sixth person to receive the achievement honor in the 40-year history of the club. And Frickey was humbled by it all.
The achievement award trophy is named for Georg Thomas, a young man with a great passion for Austrian football. He died tragically in a hang-gliding accident in 2012 at the age of 29. He and Cam had forged a solid friendship.
“I have his old youth football jersey. He gave it to me so that I would remember him.”
Cam remembers, and the award makes that longtime friendship even more special.
Pretty heady fame for a 48-year old man with very humble beginnings in the state of Oregon.
After being born in Salem, Cam and his family moved to Bend, where he excelled as a football player. After missing his junior year due to a broken collar bone suffered the weekend before the start of practice—Frickey returned his senior year, earning first team all-league honors as a wideout for the Bend Lava Bears.
Cam was next at Western Oregon for five years, starting three seasons for the Wolves—when he led the team in receptions each of those seasons.
Frickey was one of the best receivers in Western Oregon football history, holding three records when he left the school in NAIA school (at the time) in 1996. One record he still holds—most receptions in a game at 16. He also had several all-league honors during his time in Monmouth---including election as team captain, first team all-league honors, and honorable mention All-American.
In 1998, Frickey ventured across the Atlantic Ocean to Vienna to play American football with Europeans. After settling in, his playing career sky-rocketed, making him one of the best to play American football in Europe.
Between 1998 and 2003, Frickey collected 5255 yards—just shy of three miles—on 291 catches for the Vienna Vikings. That equates to just over 18 yards a reception.
In 1999, Cam was named the league MVP in Austria, with an outstanding career stat line that year which included:
•A 10 catch, 296- yard game and 3 TDs against the defending league champions
•A personal record of five touchdowns in a single game
All in all, Frickey was a force of nature for the Vienna Vikings, who were coached back then by former McNary High School football coach Tom Smythe—remembered fondly by Keizer residents back in Oregon for guiding the Celtics to state championships in 1997 and 2001. Smythe did miss one season in that stretch due to health issues, but in the six year stretch, Vienna won five national titles. And Frickey was firmly entrenched in the middle of that success.
Cam stepped away from football as a player in 2003, but his exploits were not forgotten. He was nominated and elected in 2005 to the Minor League Football Hall of Fame in McLean, Virginia (Hall Link here). He was awarded a trophy for his election, and says he is very happy to be a member of the Hall. Cam was unable to attend his own induction ceremony, which was held in Las Vegas in 2005.
Frickey doesn’t regret stepping down as a Vikings player at the end of the 2003 season.
“I was tired of always being injured,” admits Frickey.
“My last three years I dealt with a hamstring problem each season.”
For many people, that would be enough. But for Cam—it was just the start.
After moving back to Oregon, where he completed work for his college degree from Western Oregon—Frickey worked part time at North Salem High School—where I met him. He remained there until his then-wife convinced Cam to return to her native Austria. She was homesick and wanted to start a family.
After returning to Austria, Frickey sort of stumbled into the women’s football job. He had helped coach the Vienna women’s team when he was playing for the club—assisting with the receivers. When Cam arrived back in Vienna, he learned that the former women’s coach was leaving for a job in the United States. When he inquired about what was going to happen next—the team itself requested that he coach the team. A somewhat stunned Cam said “YES!”
And with that unusual endorsement, Frickey began coaching the women’s team, the Vienna Vikings. It was then that Cam began another football adventure—making his Lady Vikings team an unstoppable force. And unstoppable they were, earning 20 straight Austrian championships—18 of those titles under Cam’s direction as head coach.
Frickey’s coaching job is a dream come true—but in Europe, American football is a part time job. So Cam has made some good contacts over the years. For example, he worked for a time at the US Embassy in Vienna while playing for the Vikings. Later, he worked in various schools as a native English speaker teacher. For the last 12 years he has been in the same elementary school as a gym teacher and English teacher.
Now divorced with three children to raise, Frickey makes it work. Cam is very proud of his kids, as fathers tend to be.
His eldest, 14-year old Connor, is the starting quarterback for the u15 Austrian Flag Football National Team.
Connor’s siblings are also involved in football.
12 year old Alyssa and 8 year old Jayden both play on flag teams coached by their dad. Connor also plays on another flag team coached by dad—the 15u “Dark Angels.”
For the record, none of these teams is affiliated with the Viking's’ organization.
All in all, Cam is happy with his life these days. Raising his kids, teaching elementary children, Coaching women’s football—the routine has its own variables, and provides a level of contentment.
I’m living a busy life here with teaching during the day and coaching at night and on the weekend,” says Cam with great enthusiasm.
“A full-time job and coaching 5 teams at once is for sure stressful, but as long as football and people are involved, then I will always be smiling”
And isn’t that the definition of a fulfilling life?
Live your legendary life, Cam Frickey.