Dick MacPherson
Encyclopedia
Richard F. MacPherson is a former American football
player and 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 NFL
's New England Patriots
from 1991 to 1992, tallying a mark of 8–24. He was inducted in to the College Football Hall of Fame
as a coach in 2009.
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 turning around a team that went 1–15 in 1990 and leading them to a 6–10 record in his first season.
MacPherson also served as an assistant coach with the Denver Broncos
and the Cleveland Browns
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States and the flagship of the University of Massachusetts system...
from 1971 to 1977 and at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
from 1981 to 1990, compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 111–73–5. MacPherson was the head coach of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
from 1991 to 1992, tallying a mark of 8–24. He was inducted in to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
as a coach in 2009.
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 Auburn1987 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1987 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. Coached by Pat Dye, the team finished the season with a 9–1–2 record and won their first of three straight SEC titles. Auburn went on to tie an undefeated Syracuse team in the 1988...
in the 1988 Sugar Bowl
1988 Sugar Bowl
The 1988 Sugar Bowl was the 54th edition to the annual game. It featured the fourth ranked Syracuse Orangemen, and the sixth ranked Auburn Tigers...
. After the 1990 season he left Syracuse to become head coach of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
and was replaced by assistant Paul Pasqualoni
Paul Pasqualoni
Paul Pasqualoni is the current head coach of the University of Connecticut football team. On January 13, 2011, Pasqualoni was named to lead the Huskies, two weeks after former coach Randy Edsall left for the University of Maryland....
. MacPherson coached the Pats from 1991 to 1992 and received strong consideration for Coach of the Year honors turning around a team that went 1–15 in 1990 and leading them to a 6–10 record in his first season.
MacPherson also served as an assistant coach with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Later life
MacPherson has provided commentary during radio coverage of Syracuse football games for several seasons.College
External links
- Dick MacPherson at Pro-Football-Reference.com