Bill McCartney was a leader in coaching, an expert motivator and communicator.
For those who were recruited by or played for him at Michigan while an assistant on Bo Schembechler’s staff between 1974-81, McCartney made an unforgettable impact.
“Mac was just a special guy, a special coach,” former Michigan quarterback John Wangler said. “You talk about certain guys come through your life who leave a great impression and who change your life and who you have the highest respect for, Mac’s one of those guys. Anyone he touches, they remember.”
His family recently announced that McCartney, 76, has late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The Riverview native who went on to lead Colorado to a share of the 1990 national championship and was enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013 mostly has issues with short-term memory, Wangler said.
A large number of former Michigan players who were recruited and coached by McCartney attended a reception for him Friday night. McCartney was expected to be in attendance. In total, about 150 former Michigan players and nearly 50 former Colorado players will honor him this weekend.
The former Michigan players will wear T-shirts that read: “Thanks Coach Mac”.
McCartney will be Colorado’s honorary captain for today’s game against Michigan in Ann Arbor.
“He believed in the holistic development of his students and grounded in core values,” said Boston College athletic director Brad Bates, who played defense at Michigan under McCartney. “Just an amazing communicator.
“I studied how he communicates. He was a genius communicator and his ability to inspire and motivate was amazing. I learned so much on a communication level from him.”
Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/
