Sean McDonnell

Last updated
Sean McDonnell
Sean McDonnell in 2015.JPG
McDonnell in 2015 at Spartan Stadium before a game against San Jose State
Biographical details
Born (1956-10-15) October 15, 1956 (age 67)
Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1975–1978 New Hampshire
Position(s) Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1983–1984 Hamilton (DC)
1985–1987 Boston University (WR/TE)
1988 Boston College (GA)
1989–1990 Columbia (OLB)
1991–1993 New Hampshire (WR/QB)
1994–1998New Hampshire (OC)
1999–2018New Hampshire
2020–2021New Hampshire
Head coaching record
Overall157–104
Tournaments14–14 (NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 A-10 (2005)
1 CAA (2014)
2 A-10 North Division (2004–2005)
2 CAA North Division (2008–2009)
Awards
2× Eddie Robinson Award (2005, 2014)

Sean Patrick McDonnell (born October 15, 1956) is a retired college football coach and former player, best known for his tenure as head football coach at the University of New Hampshire.

Contents

Biography

McDonnell, nicknamed "Coach Mac", served as the head football coach of the New Hampshire Wildcats football program from 1999 to 2021. [1] From August 2019 to March 2020, took a leave of absence for medical reasons, with associate head coach Ricky Santos acting as interim head coach for the 2019 season. [2] McDonnell returned to coaching in March 2020. [3] McDonnell announced his retirement on December 1, 2021, at the conclusion of his 30th year as a coach for New Hampshire and 23rd year as head coach of the program. [4] [5]

McDonnell won the Eddie Robinson Award in 2005 and 2014, which is given annually to the top head coach in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). [6] McDonnell ranks third all-time in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) victories. He ranks second all-time in wins at New Hampshire, only behind the College Football Hall of Fame inductee he once coached under, Bill Bowes. McDonnell is one of 13 FCS coaches with over 150 wins all-time as a head coach, and also had six wins versus Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents. McDonnell coached as players or had as assistants multiple people who went on to become college football head coaches, including: Ryan Day (Ohio State), Chip Kelly (UCLA), Joe Conlin (Fordham), Tony Trisciani (Elon), Dan Curran (Merrimack), Mike Lichten (University of New England), Ryan Carty (University of Delaware) and his successor at New Hampshire, Ricky Santos. McDonnell has two sons. He lives with his wife in Durham, New Hampshire.

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs TSN/STATS#
New Hampshire Wildcats (Atlantic 10 Conference)(1999–2006)
1999 New Hampshire 5–63–5T–6th
2000 New Hampshire 6–54–4T–4th
2001 New Hampshire 4–72–710th
2002 New Hampshire 3–82–710th
2003 New Hampshire 5–73–6T–8th
2004 New Hampshire 10–36–21st (North)L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 6
2005 New Hampshire 11–27–1T–1st (North)L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 5
2006 New Hampshire 9–45–3T–2nd (North)L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 6
New Hampshire:53–4232–35
New Hampshire Wildcats (Colonial Athletic Association)(2007–2018)
2007 New Hampshire 7–54–4T–2nd (North)L NCAA Division I First Round 14
2008 New Hampshire 10–36–21st (North)L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 8
2009 New Hampshire 10–36–21st (North)L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 10
2010 New Hampshire 8–55–3T–4thL NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 7
2011 New Hampshire 8–46–2T–2ndL NCAA Division I Second Round 11
2012 New Hampshire 8–46–2T–2ndL NCAA Division I Second Round 13
2013 New Hampshire 10–56–2T–2ndL NCAA Division I Semifinal 5
2014 New Hampshire 12–28–01stL NCAA Division I Semifinal 3
2015 New Hampshire 7–55–3T–4thL NCAA Division I First Round
2016 New Hampshire 8–56–2T–2ndL NCAA Division I Second Round 17
2017 New Hampshire 9–55–3T–4thL NCAA Division I Quarterfinal
2018 New Hampshire 4–73–59th
New Hampshire Wildcats (Colonial Athletic Association)(2020–2021)
2020 New Hampshire 0–10–17th (North) [lower-alpha 1]
2021 New Hampshire 3–82–611th
New Hampshire:157–104100–72
Total:157–104
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #Rankings from final The Sports Network / STAT Poll.

Notes

  1. ↑ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, New Hampshire was limited to a single game during the 2020 football season, contested in the Spring of 2021.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire Wildcats</span> Athletic program that represent the University of New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Wildcats, or 'Cats, are the American intercollegiate athletic teams representing the University of New Hampshire (UNH), located in Durham. The wildcat is the school's official mascot, the colors are UNH Blue and white. The University of New Hampshire competes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a full member of the America East Conference, and sponsors teams in seven men's, eleven women's and one coed NCAA sanctioned sports. However, the men's and women's hockey teams are members of Hockey East, the gymnastics team is a member of the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL), and the ski team is a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA). The football team plays as an associate member of the Coastal Athletic Association in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, the second tier of Division I formerly known as Division I-AA.

Ricky Santos is an American former gridiron football quarterback who is currently the head coach for the New Hampshire Wildcats football team. He played college football at New Hampshire, and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Hampshire Wildcats football</span> Intercollegiate American football team

The New Hampshire Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University of New Hampshire. The Wildcats compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). The team plays its home games at the 11,000 seat Wildcat Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire, and are led by head coach Ricky Santos.

The 2009 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire during the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS football season. New Hampshire competede as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) under head coach Sean McDonnell and played their home games at Cowell Stadium. They won the North Division of the CAA with a 9–2 record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonial Clash</span> American college football rivalry

The Colonial Clash was an annual college football rivalry game played between the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) and the University of New Hampshire (UNH). The two teams first played each other in 1897, and met annually from 1952 through 2011. The rivalry was branded as the Colonial Clash beginning in 2010. In 2012, UMass transitioned to the Football Bowl subdivision (FBS) of NCAA Division I, leaving the future of the rivalry in question. In 74 playings, UMass has won 43 games, UNH has won 28 games, and there have been three ties. Beginning with the 1986 playing, the MVP of the game was awarded the Bill Knight Trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 New Hampshire Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2011 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire in the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats were led by 13th-year head coach Sean McDonnell and played their home games at Cowell Stadium. They are a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They finished the season 8–4, 6–2 in CAA play to finish in a three-way tie for second place. They received an at-large bid into the FCS playoffs where they lost in the second round to Montana State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle for the Brice–Cowell Musket</span> American college football rivalry

The Battle for the Brice–Cowell Musket is the rivalry between the Maine Black Bears and the New Hampshire Wildcats. Both schools are members of CAA Football, the legally separate football league operated by the multi-sports Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). Through the 2022 season, the two teams have met 113 times on the football field, with New Hampshire currently holding a 59–46–8 edge in the all-time series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 New Hampshire Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2014 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire in the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 16th-year head coach Sean McDonnell and played their home games at Cowell Stadium. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). They finished the season 12–2, 8–0 in CAA play to win the CAA championship. They earned the CAA's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where they defeated Fordham in the second round and Chattanooga in the quarterfinals before losing to Illinois State in the semifinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 New Hampshire Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2010 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire in the 2010 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats were led by 12th-year head coach Sean McDonnell and played their home games at Cowell Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in CAA play. They received an at-large bid into the FCS playoffs where they lost in the quarterfinals to Delaware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 New Hampshire Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2008 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire in the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats were led by 10th-year head coach Sean McDonnell and played their home games at Cowell Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They finished the season 10–3, 6–2 in CAA play. They received an at-large bid into the FCS playoffs where they lost in the quarterfinals to Northern Iowa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 New Hampshire Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2007 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire in the 2007 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats were led by ninth-year head coach Sean McDonnell and played their home games at Cowell Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They finished the season 7–5, 4–4 in CAA play. They received an at-large bid into the FCS playoffs, where they lost in the first round to Northern Iowa.

The 2006 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire in the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats were led by eight-year head coach Sean McDonnell and played their home games at Cowell Stadium in Durham, New Hampshire. They were a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) and moved to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) following the conclusion of the season. They finished the season 9–4 overalla nd 5–3 in A–10 play. They received an at-large bid into the FCS playoffs where they lost in the quarterfinals to UMass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 New Hampshire Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire in the 2017 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 19th-year head coach Sean McDonnell and played their home games at Wildcat Stadium. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They finished the season 9–5, 5–3 in CAA play to finish in a tie for fourth place. They received an at-large bid to the FCS Playoffs where they defeated Central Connecticut and Central Arkansas before losing in the quarterfinals to South Dakota State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 New Hampshire Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2018 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 20th-year head coach Sean McDonnell and played their home games at Wildcat Stadium. They were a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. They finished the season 4–7, 3–5 in CAA play to finish in ninth place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 New Hampshire Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2019 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in the 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by interim head coach Ricky Santos, due to longtime head coach Sean McDonnell taking a leave of absence for medical reasons. The team played their home games at Wildcat Stadium. The Wildcats finished the season 6–5 overalla nd 5–3 in CAA play to tie for third place.

The 2005 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire during the 2005 NCAA Division I-AA football season. It was the program's 111th season and they finished as Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10) co-champions with Richmond after posting a 7–1 record in conference play. The Wildcats earned a berth as the #1 seed into the 16-team Division I-AA playoffs, but were upset in the quarterfinals by Northern Iowa, 21–24. New Hampshire was led by seventh-year head coach Sean McDonnell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 New Hampshire Wildcats football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 New Hampshire Wildcats football team represented the University of New Hampshire in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The team was led by 21st-year head coach Sean McDonnell following his leave of absence due to medical reasons during the 2019 season. The Wildcats have played their home football games at Wildcat Stadium since 1936, and have competed in college football as an associate member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) since 2007.

The 2000 New Hampshire Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented the University of New Hampshire as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference during the 2000 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In its second year under head coach Sean McDonnell, the team compiled a 6–5 record and finished in a tie for fourth place in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Kevin Decker is an American college football coach and former player. He is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Old Dominion Monarchs football team.

References

  1. ↑ Fitz, Gary (May 15, 2011). "Changes put UNH sports in tough spot". The Telegraph (Nashua) . Retrieved December 24, 2011.
  2. ↑ Connolly, John (August 27, 2019). "New Hampshire football coach Sean McDonnell on leave for health reasons" . Boston Herald . Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  3. ↑ Lessels, Allen (April 16, 2020). "MAC'S BACK: After losing a season to bladder cancer, UNH football coach Sean McDonnell medically cleared". Foster's Daily Democrat . Dover, New Hampshire . Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Coach Mac Retires". unhwildcats.com. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Sean McDonnell spent 23 years as head coach and three decades coaching Wildcats" . Foster's Daily Democrat . Dover, New Hampshire. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Eddie Robinson Award". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on April 4, 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.