Churella also received the 1979 Big Ten Medal of Honor for proficiency in scholarship, athletics and community service.

[3][4][5][6][7][8] Churella's collegiate success foreshadowed his qualification for the 1980 Summer Olympics, but the US' boycott of the event prevented the opportunity.

After UNLV discontinued its wrestling program, Churella returned to the University of Michigan as an assistant coach from 1985 to 1987.

[3][10] Churella later went into the insurance services business and became the president and CEO of FDI Group, in Novi, Michigan.

[3] In 2012, he received the Bob Ufer Award for outstanding service to the University of Michigan Athletic Department.