Bill McCartney was the man who will always be recognized as the coach that transformed the fortunes of the football program at the University of Colorado.
Although the McCartney family announced on Friday night that CU’s legendary coach passed away, his legendary status at the feet of the Flatirons will live on forever.
A legend of the game. A legacy that will live forever.
Rest in Peace, Coach Mac 🪽https://t.co/sSXySmmlZb pic.twitter.com/RKZqHvIZdl
— Colorado Buffaloes (@CUBuffs) January 11, 2025
McCartney had spent eight years as an assistant at Michigan before taking the head coach job in Boulder. He took over for Chuck Fairbanks who had gone 7-26 in his time with the Buffs.
McCartney gained traction in his fourth season, going 7-5 and taking the Buffs to the Freedom Bowl, their first bowl game in nearly a decade. From that point on, the Buffs never had a losing record with McCartney at the helm.
He famously led CU to the 1990 national championship, capped by CU’s 10-9 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
He retired after the 1994 season, where he led the Buffs to an 11-1 record and once again beat the Fighting Irish in the Fiesta Bowl, this time more decisively with a 41-24 final score.
McCartney’s footprint in the program is still felt to this day. Current CU athletic director, Rick George, was hired as the recruiting coordinator for McCartney in 1987.
“I am very saddened at the passing of Coach Mac,” George said in a statement. “I was fortunate to be able to say goodbye to Coach in person last week. Coach Mac was an incredible man who taught me about the importance of faith, family and being a good husband, father and grandfather. He instilled discipline and accountability to all of us who worked and played under his leadership. The mark that he left on CU football and our athletic department will be hard to replicate. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mike, Tom, Kristy, Marc and their families. I have many fond memories of Coach Mac and will hold those close to my heart. God bless Coach Mac.”