Football
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
- Phone:
Mick McCall recently concluded his 12th season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks’ coach at Northwestern, where he mentored six All-Big Ten quarterbacks. He began his Wildcat tenure on Jan. 17, 2008.
The Wildcats have gone 89-67 during McCall's tenure, tying a program record with 10 wins in 2012, 2015 and 2017. The ’Cats have gone to nine bowls over the last 12 years, winning four bowl games, including three-straight from 2016-18 (2016 Pinstripe Bowl, 2017 Music City Bowl, 2018 Holiday Bowl). NU claimed its first-ever Big Ten West title in 2018.
McCall’s offense in 2018 was led by quarterback Clayton Thorson, who finished as the program leader in career passing yards (10,731), completions (991), attempts (1697) and touchdowns (61). Thorson was a three-time All-Big Ten performer. In addition, true first-year Isaiah Bowser exploded onto the scene four 100-yard rushing performances en route to 866 yards, the third most by a first-year in NU history.
In 2017, McCall’s unit ranked sixth in the league in passing, fifth in rushing and fourth in total offense with 408 yards per game. The Wildcats’ attack was headlined by second team All-Big Ten running back Justin Jackson and Thorson earning a third-team All-Big Ten selection as well.
Jackson, a four-time All-Big Ten honoree, finished his career as the most accomplished running back in Northwestern history, notching 1,142 carries, 5,440 rushing yards and 41 rushing touchdowns– first in program history in all three categories. Jackson finished his career second Thorson threw for 2,844 passing yards and 15 touchdowns while also adding eight rushing touchdowns in 2017.
After a 10-win campaign in 2015, the 2016 season saw McCall and the Wildcats take strides forward with second-year signal caller in Thorson. He ranked fourth in the Big Ten with a NU sophomore record 3,182 passing yards and a new program single-season record 22 passing touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Austin Carr also became just the third player since 1990 to lead the Big Ten in receptions, receiving yards (1,247) and touchdowns (12). Carr combined with junior running back Justin Jackson as the only duo in the country to lead a conference in receiving yards and rushing yards.
In 2012, McCall served as the architect to one most unique offensive systems in the country with Kain Colter and Trevor Siemian. Colter, the more dynamic player, started 12 games and posted a passer efficiency rating of 129.3 while also running for 894 yards and a team-best 12 touchdowns. Siemian’s lethal pocket presence orchestrated the two-minute offense, throwing for 1,312 yards and six touchdowns.
In Siemian's final year at Northwestern (2014), he passed for 2,214 yards as well as rushing for five touchdowns. He is fourth all-time at NU in career passing yardage (5,931 and completions (550), sixth in total offense yards (5,908), seventh passing TDs (27) and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 7th round of the 2015 NFL Draft.
McCall also successfully implemented the two-quarterback system in 2011 as All-Big Ten signal-caller Dan Persa shared snaps with Colter. After Persa returned from injury, McCall employed Colter as a utility player. He compiled 673 passing yards, 654 rushing yards and 466 receiving yards and was involved in 18 total touchdowns on the year. Persa finished as the most accurate passer in NCAA history with a record-setting career completion percentage of 72.7.
In 2009, McCall took advantage of former fourth round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles Mike Kafka's abilities to turn his offense in the conference’s top passing attack (286.5 ypg). In the Outback Bowl, McCall's offense broke 21 bowl records, compiling 625 total yards during a dramatic 38-35 overtime loss for NU. Kafka’s 47 completions, 78 passing attempts and the Wildcats 115 total offensive plays were both NCAA bowl and NCAA FBS records.
McCall in 2007 was the offensive coordinator at Bowling Green State University, directing the Falcons' spread offense, which averaged 402.5 yards per game. Prior to '07, McCall spent four years as BGSU's quarterbacks coach, and mentored All-Americans Josh Harris (2003) and Omar Jacobs (2004). In 2004, Jacobs set an NCAA record by throwing a nation best and MAC-record 41 TD passes with just four interceptions, the best TD/interception ratio in the history of college football.
McCall began coaching in 1979 at his alma mater, Southern Colorado, as the quarterbacks and running backs coach. Among the more notable players McCall has coached is former Idaho State running back Merril Hoge. Hoge went on to star for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL from 1987-93.
Prior to his coaching career, McCall was a quarterback at Southern Colorado in Pueblo, Colo., from 1975-78 where he was a two-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference performer and lettered in basketball. He was invited to participate in the training camp of the NFL's Detroit Lions following his college playing career.
He and his wife, JoAnne, have two daughters, Ashley and Brittany.
