Mick McCall
Mick McCall is an American football coach with 40 years of coaching experience. Previously, he has held stints at Northwestern University (2008–2019), Bowling Green State University (2003–2007), University of Wyoming (2001–2002), Oregon State University (1988–1990) and Idaho State University (1983–1987). A Colorado native, McCall began coaching in 1979 at his alma mater, University of Southern Colorado, where he played quarterback from 1975–1978.
Playing career[edit]
Prior to starting his coaching career, McCall was a quarterback at the University of Southern Colorado (now Colorado State University-Pueblo) where he was twice named All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. A 2012 Hall of Fame inductee, he was the first quarterback to preside over sustained success in the program’s history, and held the program’s career record for total offense (4,429 yards) for 34 years (through 2012). He led the team to a then-record eight-win season during his senior season in 1978, and was 24-15 as a four-year starter – the only four-year starting quarterback in program history (1975–78). He was also a three-time letter winner in basketball (1976, 1977, 1978). After graduation, McCall was signed by the Detroit Lions.
Coaching career[edit]
Northwestern University (2008–2019)[edit]
Source[1] In his 12 seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Evanston, McCall helped lead the Wildcats to unprecedented success, both on and off the field of play. He presided over offenses that produced nine bowl appearances – including four New Year’s Day bowl games (2010, 2011, 2013, 2016) – four bowl wins, three 10-win seasons and the program’s first Big Ten West Division title and Big Ten Championship berth (2018). Additionally, he coached and developed six All-Big Ten quarterbacks, including three who went on to play in the NFL – Clayton Thorson, Trevor Siemian and Mike Kafka – the most in the Big Ten Conference over that span.[2]
Under McCall’s direction from 2014–2018, the Northwestern offense produced the most prolific quarterback and running back in program history. Thorson finished his career with program records for wins, passing yards (10,731), completions (991) and touchdowns (61), and became one of just six quarterbacks in Big Ten history to surpass 10,000 passing yards and the only quarterback in Big Ten history to pass for 10,000 yards and rush for 20 touchdowns in his career (as of 2018). Also under McCall’s system, Justin Jackson finished his collegiate career atop the NU record book with 5,440 rushing yards, 6,298 all-purpose yards and 41 rushing touchdowns. Jackson also was one of five Academic All-Americans on the offensive side of the ball during McCall's tenure, a group that features 2016 Big Ten Receiver of the Year Austin Carr.[3]
With McCall at the helm of the offense, the 2018 Wildcats claimed the program’s first-ever Big Ten West Division title and berth in the Big Ten Championship game with a program-tying eight Big Ten wins. NU mounted a dramatic come-from-behind victory over No. 17 Utah in the 2018 Holiday Bowl by scoring a bowl record 28 points in the third quarter to claim its third-straight bowl win for the first time in program history. The Wildcats' historic success on the field was also matched by FBS record Graduation Success Rates.
McCall's offense also introduced the superback position to college football, helping produce Big Ten Tight End of the Year Drake Dunsmore, as well as pros Dan Vitale and Garrett Dickerson.
During the 2012 season, McCall orchestrated a two-quarterback system that resulted in a 10-win season, highlighted by a victory over Mississippi State in the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl. Northwestern concluded the 2012 season ranked No. 17 in the final USA Today/Coaches Poll, the best positioning for any Big Ten team. Under McCall’s spread attack, Kain Colter ran for 820 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Siemian threw for 1,192 yards and six touchdowns. McCall's offense also featured one of the nation's most dynamic running backs in Venric Mark, helping the junior become NU’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 2006. McCall's offense produced 31.7 points per game (third-best in the Big Ten) and a pair of second-team All-Big Ten selections in Mark and offensive lineman Brian Mulroe.
In 2011, McCall oversaw an offense led by quarterbacks Dan Persa and Colter. Persa followed his first-team All-Big Ten performance in 2010 by leading the conference in passing yards per game (237.6). McCall helped Colter post a 2-1 mark as the starter while Persa fully recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon and, after Persa's return, utilized Colter as a quarterback-running back-receiver hybrid. In all under McCall's direction, Northwestern landed six offensive players on the 2011 all-conference teams: Persa, Colter, WR Jeremy Ebert, OL Al Netter, OL Brian Mulroe and Big Ten Tight End of the Year Dunsmore.
In 2010, for the second-straight year, McCall coached Northwestern's starting quarterback to All-Big Ten honors. Persa was the coaches’ choice as the conference's top quarterback while the media tabbed him as a second-team honoree after the junior completed a Big Ten-record 73.5 percent of his passes for 2,581 yards and 15 touchdowns against just four interceptions. Persa also ran for 519 yards and nine more scores. The Wildcats ranked third in the Big Ten in passing offense with 242.6 yards per game, compiling a 7-3 record after a win over then-No. 13 Iowa.
In 2009, McCall's version of the spread offense saw 14 different Wildcats catch passes that year and eight who earned double-digit catches, led by senior Eric Peterman with 737 yards receiving and six touchdowns en route to an honorable mention All-Big Ten nod.
In the 2010 Outback Bowl, McCall's offense gained 625 total yards while contributing to 21 broken Outback Bowl records and an additional 11 tied. Kafka's 532 yards through the air were a school record, while his 47 completions and 78 passing attempts were NCAA bowl records.
Under McCall's tutelage, Kafka was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles after leading the conference in total offense (286.5 ypg.), passing yardage (263.8 ypg.), completion percentage (64.8), completions per game (24.5) and fewest interceptions thrown (2.44 percent) as a senior.
McCall helped NU to a 9-4 record in his first season at the helm of the Wildcats offense in 2008, while dealing with injuries to standout performers on NU's offensive unit. Quarterback C.J. Bachér finished 33rd in the nation and second in the Big Ten in total offense. When an injury kept for him out for two games, McCall tweaked the offense to allow Kafka to break the Big Ten record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 217 at Minnesota.
Bowling Green State University (2003–2007)[edit]
In 2007, McCall was the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green State University. Prior to 2007, McCall was quarterbacks coach at Bowling Green.
In 2004, Jacobs had the best year ever for a Falcon signal caller. Jacobs, who declared early for the NFL Draft, also was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year while completing 309-of-462 passes for 4,002 yards. He also led the nation in points (22.5 ppg.) and was second in the nation in passing (333.5 ypg.) and total offense (358.5 ypg.). In 2005, Jacobs led the MAC in total offense (294.7 ypg) and was second in touchdown passes with 26.
Harris, who quarterbacked the Falcons in the 2003 Motor City Bowl against Northwestern, completed 325-of-494 passes (65.8 percent) for a then-school-record 3,813 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also had 830 yards rushing and ranked third nationally in total offense (331.1 ypg.).
University of Wyoming (2001–2002)[edit]
McCall spent two seasons as the quarterbacks and running backs coach at the University of Wyoming 2001-02).
J.K. Mullen High School and Douglas County High School (1991–2000)[edit]
Prior to joining the Wyoming coaching staff, McCall directed a successful 10-year stints (1991-2000) as the head coach at Douglas County High School and J.K. Mullen High School, both members of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA).
During McCall's seven-year tenure at Mullen, he led the Mustangs to a 68-17 (.800) record and the 5A state championship in 1998. Mullen won the Centennial League Championship five out of McCall's seven years as head coach and advanced to the 5A state playoffs in his last six seasons at the helm, reaching the semifinals four times (1995, 1996, 1998, 2000). McCall was named The Denver Post Coach of the Year in 1998. The following season, Mullen was selected to play in the Kick-Off Classic in Orlando, Florida. In 2000, Mullen hosted Bethlehem Catholic High School from Bethlehem, Pa., in the Kick-Off Classic on Labor Day weekend.
In addition to his head coaching duties, McCall also served as Mullen’s athletic director from 1996 to 2000.
Before taking over the Mullen football program, McCall served as head coach at Douglas County High School for three seasons (1991–93). In his 10 seasons as a high-school coach, he mentored more than 70 student-athletes who went on to play football at the collegiate level, including Alex Smith and Bo Scaife.
Oregon State University (1988–1990)[edit]
McCall coached three seasons at Oregon State in 1988 as the Beavers' wide receivers and tight ends coach.
Idaho State University (1983–1987)[edit]
McCall spent five seasons as the running backs/tight ends coach and special teams coordinator at Idaho State in the Big Sky Conference (1983–87).
University of Southern Colorado at Pueblo (1979–1982)[edit]
McCall began his coaching career in 1979 as the quarterbacks and running backs coach at Southern Colorado.
References[edit]
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