Dick MacPherson
Richard F. MacPherson (November 4, 1930 – August 8, 2017) was an American football coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1971 to 1977 and at Syracuse University from 1981 to 1990, compiling a career college football record of 111–73–5. MacPherson was the head coach of the National Football League's New England Patriots from 1991 to 1992, tallying a mark of 8–24. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2009.
 MacPherson at Syracuse | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 4, 1930 Old Town, Maine |
| Died | August 8, 2017 (aged 86) Syracuse, New York |
| Playing career | |
| 1950s | Springfield (MA) |
| Position(s) | Center, linebacker |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1958 | Illinois (GA) |
| 1959–1960 | UMass (assistant) |
| 1961–1965 | Cincinnati (assistant) |
| 1966 | Maryland (DB) |
| 1967–1970 | Denver Broncos (LB/DB) |
| 1971–1977 | UMass |
| 1978–1980 | Cleveland Browns (LB) |
| 1981–1990 | Syracuse |
| 1991–1992 | New England Patriots |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 111–73–5 (college) 8–24 (NFL) |
| Bowls | 4–1–1 |
| Tournaments | 0–1 (NCAA Division II playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 4 Yankee (1971–1972, 1974, 1977) | |
| Awards | |
| AFCA Coach of the Year (1987) Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (1987) Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award (1987) Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (1987) Sporting News College Football COY (1987) Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award (1987) | |
| College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2009 (profile) | |
Coaching career
MacPherson's record at Syracuse was 66–46–4 and included an undefeated season in 1987, when his team finished 11–0–1 and tied Auburn in the 1988 Sugar Bowl. After the 1990 season he left Syracuse to become head coach of the New England Patriots and was replaced by assistant Paul Pasqualoni. MacPherson coached the Pats from 1991 to 1992 and received strong consideration for Coach of the Year honors in 1991, turning around a team that went 1–15 in 1990 and leading them to a 6–10 record in his first season. However, in his second season the team started four different quarterbacks and went 2–14. MacPherson was subsequently fired at the end of the season.[1]
MacPherson also served as an assistant coach with the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns.[2]
Later life
MacPherson provided commentary during radio coverage of Syracuse football games for several seasons.[2] He was honored as the Grand Marshal at the 28th Annual Syracuse St. Patrick's Parade[3] in 2010.
MacPherson died surrounded by his family at the Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York, on August 8, 2017, at the age of 86.[4]
Head coaching record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMass Redmen/Minutemen (Yankee Conference) (1971–1977) | |||||||||
| 1971 | UMass | 4–4–1 | 3–1–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1972 | UMass | 9–2 | 5–0 | 1st | W Boardwalk | ||||
| 1973 | UMass | 6–5 | 4–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1974 | UMass | 5–6 | 4–2 | T–1st | |||||
| 1975 | UMass | 8–2 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1976 | UMass | 5–5 | 3–2 | 2nd | |||||
| 1977 | UMass | 8–3 | 5–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal | ||||
| UMass: | 45–27–1 | 27–8–1 | |||||||
| Syracuse Orangemen (NCAA Division I-A Independent) (1981–1990) | |||||||||
| 1981 | Syracuse | 4–6–1 | |||||||
| 1982 | Syracuse | 2–9 | |||||||
| 1983 | Syracuse | 6–5 | |||||||
| 1984 | Syracuse | 6–5 | |||||||
| 1985 | Syracuse | 7–5 | L Cherry | ||||||
| 1986 | Syracuse | 5–6 | |||||||
| 1987 | Syracuse | 11–0–1 | T Sugar | 4 | 4 | ||||
| 1988 | Syracuse | 10–2 | W Hall of Fame | 12 | 13 | ||||
| 1989 | Syracuse | 8–4 | W Peach | ||||||
| 1990 | Syracuse | 7–4–2 | W Aloha | 21 | |||||
| Syracuse: | 66–46–4 | ||||||||
| Total: | 111–73–5 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
| |||||||||
NFL
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| NE | 1991 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4th in AFC East | – | – | – | – |
| NE | 1992 | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 5th in AFC East | – | – | – | – |
| NE Total | 8 | 24 | 0 | .250 | – | – | – | – | ||
| Total | 8 | 24 | 0 | .250 | – | – | – | – | ||
References
- "Dick MacPherson: I made a huge mistake in going to New England". syracuse.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- "Dick MacPherson, who'll be celebrated Saturday, took this town on terrific football ride". syracuse.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
- "Syracuse St. Patrick's Parade - Grand Marshal". syracusestpatricksparade.org. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- "Former Syracuse football coach Dick MacPherson dies at 86 years old". Syracuse.com. August 8, 2017. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
External links
- Dick MacPherson at the College Football Hall of Fame
- Dick MacPherson at Pro-Football-Reference.com
- Dick MacPherson at Find a Grave