Northwestern University Athletics

Mick McCall Will Not Return As Northwestern Offensive Coordinator
12/1/2019 12:05:00 PM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern Wildcats offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mick McCall will not return for the 2020 season, Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald announced Sunday.
"Mick was one of the first hires I made when given the honor of leading this program, and has been a trusted colleague and loyal friend for almost my entire tenure," said Fitzgerald. "He's guided our offense through unquestionably one of the most successful periods in Wildcats history, with four bowl championships and nine postseason appearances. Mick recruited and coached great student-athletes and exceptional young men who have made the Northwestern community proud in so many ways after graduation."
McCall's 12 years in Evanston included the tutelage of six All-Big Ten quarterbacks, three of whom went on to play in the National Football League.
"I'm proud of what we accomplished at Northwestern, and the success I've contributed to throughout my career," said McCall. "It's been a privilege to represent this University, and work alongside some of the best student-athletes, coaches and staff I've encountered in my career. I'll forever be indebted to Pat Fitzgerald and Jim Phillips for giving me this opportunity. A piece of my family and me will always belong to Evanston and Chicago."
Over the last several seasons, the Northwestern offense produced the most prolific quarterback and running back in program history, as Clayton Thorson finished his career with records for passing yards, completions, passing touchdowns and wins, and Justin Jackson sits atop the record book with 5,440 rushing yards, 6,298 all-purpose yards and 41 rushing touchdowns. Jackson also was one of five Academic All-Americans on the offensive side of the ball during McCall's tenure, a group that features 2016 Big Ten Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year Austin Carr.
McCall's offense also introduced the superback position to college football, a meeting room that produced Big Ten Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year Drake Dunsmore, as well as current pros Dan Vitale and Garrett Dickerson.
McCall joined the Northwestern family after five seasons at Bowling Green State University, where he mentored All-Americans Josh Harris (2003) and Omar Jacobs (2004) after collegiate stops at Wyoming, Oregon State and Idaho State. His coaching career began in 1979 at his alma mater, Southern Colorado, where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference quarterback and lettered in basketball.
"Mick was one of the first hires I made when given the honor of leading this program, and has been a trusted colleague and loyal friend for almost my entire tenure," said Fitzgerald. "He's guided our offense through unquestionably one of the most successful periods in Wildcats history, with four bowl championships and nine postseason appearances. Mick recruited and coached great student-athletes and exceptional young men who have made the Northwestern community proud in so many ways after graduation."
McCall's 12 years in Evanston included the tutelage of six All-Big Ten quarterbacks, three of whom went on to play in the National Football League.
"I'm proud of what we accomplished at Northwestern, and the success I've contributed to throughout my career," said McCall. "It's been a privilege to represent this University, and work alongside some of the best student-athletes, coaches and staff I've encountered in my career. I'll forever be indebted to Pat Fitzgerald and Jim Phillips for giving me this opportunity. A piece of my family and me will always belong to Evanston and Chicago."
Over the last several seasons, the Northwestern offense produced the most prolific quarterback and running back in program history, as Clayton Thorson finished his career with records for passing yards, completions, passing touchdowns and wins, and Justin Jackson sits atop the record book with 5,440 rushing yards, 6,298 all-purpose yards and 41 rushing touchdowns. Jackson also was one of five Academic All-Americans on the offensive side of the ball during McCall's tenure, a group that features 2016 Big Ten Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year Austin Carr.
McCall's offense also introduced the superback position to college football, a meeting room that produced Big Ten Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year Drake Dunsmore, as well as current pros Dan Vitale and Garrett Dickerson.
McCall joined the Northwestern family after five seasons at Bowling Green State University, where he mentored All-Americans Josh Harris (2003) and Omar Jacobs (2004) after collegiate stops at Wyoming, Oregon State and Idaho State. His coaching career began in 1979 at his alma mater, Southern Colorado, where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference quarterback and lettered in basketball.
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