John McVay
Encyclopedia
John McVay is a former American football
coach
who rose through the coaching ranks from high school, through the college level, and to the NFL. Born in Bellaire, Ohio
, he played college football at Miami University
, starring as an offensive lineman.
as an assistant coach and then head coach at the University of Dayton
. Born January 5, 1931. Attended college at Miami University. Later became married with three boys. John McVay, Jim McVay, and Tim McVay.
Memphis Southmen
in 1974, the WFL's first season. His record at Memphis was 24-7. The league folded in 1975. In 1976 he went to the NFL New York Giants
as an assistant coach and replaced fellow Miami alumnus Bill Arnsparger
as the head coach when Arnsparger was fired at mid-season. From 1976 to 1978, McVay struggled with a franchise in transition. His first NFL season included a roster with three rookie
quarterbacks. His contract with the Giants was not renewed after the 1978 NFL season, most likely as the result of a famous loss to the Philadelphia Eagles
on November 19, 1978. (His headphones were not working during that part of the game; he later said that if he had heard of his offensive coordinator's call for a handoff, he would have overruled it.)
in 1980. He collaborated with head coach Bill Walsh
in one of the most successful dynasties in NFL history. As vice president/director of football operations, he presided over five Super Bowl
-winning seasons. He was named NFL Executive of the Year in 1989. He retired from the 49ers in 1996.
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...
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
who rose through the coaching ranks from high school, through the college level, and to the NFL. Born in Bellaire, Ohio
Bellaire, Ohio
Bellaire is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,278 at the 2010 census. The village is located along the Ohio River...
, he played college football at Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, starring as an offensive lineman.
Biography
McVay coached at several Ohio high schools, Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
as an assistant coach and then head coach at the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
. Born January 5, 1931. Attended college at Miami University. Later became married with three boys. John McVay, Jim McVay, and Tim McVay.
Coaching
He became the pro football head coach of the World Football LeagueWorld Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
Memphis Southmen
Memphis Southmen
The Memphis Southmen were a franchise in the World Football League which operated in 1974 and 1975. They played their home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, United States.-From North to South:...
in 1974, the WFL's first season. His record at Memphis was 24-7. The league folded in 1975. In 1976 he went to the NFL New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an assistant coach and replaced fellow Miami alumnus Bill Arnsparger
Bill Arnsparger
William Stephen "Bill" Arnsparger is a former American college and professional football coach.- Early years :Arnsparger was born in Paris, Kentucky in 1926. He attended Paris High School, and became connected with the school's longtime football and basketball coach, Blanton Collier...
as the head coach when Arnsparger was fired at mid-season. From 1976 to 1978, McVay struggled with a franchise in transition. His first NFL season included a roster with three rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
quarterbacks. His contract with the Giants was not renewed after the 1978 NFL season, most likely as the result of a famous loss to the Philadelphia Eagles
The Miracle at the Meadowlands
The Miracle at the Meadowlands is the term used by sportscasters and Philadelphia Eagles fans for a fumble recovery by cornerback Herman Edwards that he returned for a touchdown at the end of a November 19, 1978 NFL game against the New York Giants in Giants Stadium...
on November 19, 1978. (His headphones were not working during that part of the game; he later said that if he had heard of his offensive coordinator's call for a handoff, he would have overruled it.)
Front office
McVay moved on to an administrative position with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in 1980. He collaborated with head coach Bill Walsh
Bill Walsh (football coach)
William Ernest "Bill" Walsh was a head coach for the San Francisco 49ers and Stanford Cardinal football team, during which time he popularized the West Coast offense....
in one of the most successful dynasties in NFL history. As vice president/director of football operations, he presided over five Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
-winning seasons. He was named NFL Executive of the Year in 1989. He retired from the 49ers in 1996.