BOULDER, Colo. — Bill McCartney, who led Colorado to its sole football national title in 1990, has passed away. He was 84 years old.
The beloved Coach Mac passed away Friday night “following a brave battle with dementia,” as stated by his family. In 2016, his family revealed that he was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s.
“The family remarked in their statement that Coach Mac influenced many lives through his steadfast faith, infinite compassion, and lasting legacy as a leader, mentor, and supporter of family, community, and faith.”
Mr. McCartney continues to be the most successful coach in Colorado history, boasting a record of 93-55-5. He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
“Coach Mac was an amazing person who showed me the value of faith, family, and being a good husband, father, and grandfather,” stated Colorado athletic director Rick George, who stayed lifelong friends with Mr. McCartney after he brought George on as his recruiting coordinator in 1987. “He imparted discipline and responsibility to everyone of us who worked and played under his guidance.”
Mr. McCartney guided Colorado to its finest season in 1990, as the team ended 11-1-1 and triumphed over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to secure the national championship. That season featured a victory at Missouri where the Buffaloes secured the winning touchdown on a “fifth down” as time ran out — one of the most significant mistakes in college football history.
The chain crew neglected to change the marker from second to third down, and the officials overlooked it. On the fourth down — fifth in reality — Charles Johnson scored to maintain Colorado’s national championship aspirations. When asked afterward if he would contemplate conceding the game, Mr. McCartney referenced the inadequate field conditions and believed it wasn’t a fair assessment.
Mr. McCartney was a coach at Colorado from 1982 to 1994, retiring early to have more time with his wife, Lyndi, who passed away in 2013. After retiring, he engaged in full-time work at Promise Keepers, a ministry he founded in 1990 following his conversion from Catholicism, with the goal of promoting “godly men.”
The organization emerged as a focal point in state politics, unsuccessfully pushing for gays to be excluded from the label of “protected class,” a stance that sparked protests on campus. He stepped down as president of Promise Keepers in 2003 due to his wife’s health issues but made a comeback five years afterward.
Mr. McCartney had a tremendous influence at Colorado as a football coach. Throughout a six-year period in the late ’80s and early ’90s, his teams ranked among the dominant forces of that era. He guided Colorado to three Big Eight championships, 10 straight winning seasons in league contests, and a 58-29-4 record in conference matchups, all of which remain school records.
His 1989 team achieved an 11-1 record and fell to Notre Dame 21-6 in the Orange Bowl. That established the foundation for a national championship team that showcased quarterbacks Darian Hagan and Charles Johnson, tailback Eric Bieniemy, and a robust defense including Alfred Williams, Greg Biekert, Chad Brown, and Kanavis McGhee.
“A legendary coach yet an even better person and human,” Brown stated in a post on X, previously called Twitter. “Appreciate you, Coach!”
Mr. McCartney almost selected a career in basketball coaching.
Hailing from Riverview, Mich., he played as a center and linebacker at the University of Missouri, where he met his spouse. He subsequently coached basketball and football at a high school in Dearborn, Michigan. His squads were strong, both winning the state championship in 1973.
He attracted the attention of University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, who sought to bring Mr. McCartney onto his team. As if that wasn’t sufficient, Michigan basketball coach Johnny Orr encouraged him to become part of his team.
Mr. McCartney was unable to make a decision. His spouse offered him some straightforward guidance — listen to his heart.
He entered the realm of college football.
Mr. McCartney studied under Schembechler for eight years, until a chance arose for him to lead his own squad. After Chuck Fairbanks departed from Colorado to join the New Jersey Generals in the emerging United States Football League, Mr. McCartney requested Schembechler to speak favorably on his behalf.
At that time, Colorado’s athletic director Eddie Crowder appointed Mr. McCartney to the role.
Mr. McCartney had a challenging beginning with just seven wins in his initial three seasons, featuring a 1-10 record in 1984. Then luck began to change.
His final season with the Buffaloes was in 1994, when the squad finished 11-1 featuring players like Kordell Stewart, Michael Westbrook, and the late Rashaan Salaam. That season highlighted the “Miracle in Michigan,” where Westbrook made a 64-yard touchdown reception from Stewart on a Hail Mary as time ran out in an away victory against the Wolverines. Salaam also ran for 2,055 yards and claimed the Heisman Trophy.
Mr. McCartney aided in the development of the forthcoming generation of coaches, guiding assistants like Gary Barnett, Jim Caldwell, Ron Dickerson, Gerry DiNardo, Karl Dorrell, Jon Embree, Les Miles, Rick Neuheisel, Bob Simmons, Lou Tepper, and Ron Vanderlinden.
In the past few years, Mr. McCartney has had the opportunity to see his grandson Derek play defensive line at Colorado.
Barely a day passed without someone asking Derek if he was in any way connected to the coach.
“I enjoy it when that occurs,” Derek remarked.
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