Eddie McGirt

Eddie C. McGirt (January 31, 1920 – December 21, 1999) was an American football coach. He was the head football coach at the Johnson C. Smith University of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) from 1958 to 1977.

Eddie McGirt
Biographical details
Born(1920-01-31)January 31, 1920
Camden, South Carolina
DiedDecember 21, 1999(1999-12-21) (aged 79)
Playing career
Football
c. 1940Johnson C. Smith
Position(s)Fullback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1958–1977Johnson C. Smith
Basketball
1959–1962Johnson C. Smith
Head coaching record
Overall118–73–3 (football)
63–32 (basketball)

Early years

McGirt was born in Camden, South Carolina. He competed in football, basketball, and track at Mather Academy. He enrolled at Johnson C. Smith University in 1940, earning All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) honors as a fullback for the football team.[1]

He entered the United States Army in 1943 and received a Purple Heart.

Coaching career

McGirt was the football head coach at Mather Academy for several years. In 1958, he returned to Johnson C. Smith University, where he eventually became the school's 11th head football coach.

He is credited with lifting Johnson C. Smith's struggling football team to become one of the CIAA's most respected. For 20 years, his teams ranked at the top of CIAA standings. He retired after 20 years as Johnson C. Smith's head football coach. During his tenure, his teams won one CIAA championship (1969), two divisional titles, and were runners-up twice. He retired with an overall football coaching record of 118-73.[2]

He also served many teaching positions and coached the university's basketball team from 1959 to 1962 with an overall record of 63–32.[3]

McGirt remained as the university's athletic director and head of the Department of Health and Physical Education until June 30, 1985. He supported Johnson C. Smith athletics until his death on December 21, 1999.

In 1977, he was inducted into the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Hall of Fame. The university's football field is named after him (Eddie McGirt Field). The Eddie C. McGirt Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore, junior, or student athlete with at least a 3.0 GPA.

References
  1. "Eddie McGirt worked way to Johnson C. Smith head coach". Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  2. "Eddie McGirt worked way to Johnson C. Smith head coach". Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  3. "JCSU relaunches McGirt Football Classic". Retrieved January 12, 2019.
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