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Sean McDonnell

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American football player and coach (born 1956)

Sean McDonnell
McDonnell in 2015 at Spartan Stadium before a game against San Jose State
Biographical details
Born (1956-10-15) October 15, 1956 (age 68)
Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S.
Playing career
1975–1978New Hampshire
Position(s)Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1983–1984Hamilton (DC)
1985–1987Boston University (WR/TE)
1988Boston College (GA)
1989–1990Columbia (OLB)
1991–1993New 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.

Biography

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McDonnell, nicknamed "Coach Mac", served as the head football coach of the New Hampshire Wildcats football program from 1999 to 2021. 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. McDonnell returned to coaching in March 2020. 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.

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). 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

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs TSN/STATS
New Hampshire Wildcats (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1999–2006)
1999 New Hampshire 5–6 3–5 T–6th
2000 New Hampshire 6–5 4–4 T–4th
2001 New Hampshire 4–7 2–7 10th
2002 New Hampshire 3–8 2–7 10th
2003 New Hampshire 5–7 3–6 T–8th
2004 New Hampshire 10–3 6–2 1st (North) L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 6
2005 New Hampshire 11–2 7–1 T–1st (North) L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 5
2006 New Hampshire 9–4 5–3 T–2nd (North) L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 6
New Hampshire: 53–42 32–35
New Hampshire Wildcats (Colonial Athletic Association) (2007–2018)
2007 New Hampshire 7–5 4–4 T–2nd (North) L NCAA Division I First Round 14
2008 New Hampshire 10–3 6–2 1st (North) L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 8
2009 New Hampshire 10–3 6–2 1st (North) L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 10
2010 New Hampshire 8–5 5–3 T–4th L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 7
2011 New Hampshire 8–4 6–2 T–2nd L NCAA Division I Second Round 11
2012 New Hampshire 8–4 6–2 T–2nd L NCAA Division I Second Round 13
2013 New Hampshire 10–5 6–2 T–2nd L NCAA Division I Semifinal 5
2014 New Hampshire 12–2 8–0 1st L NCAA Division I Semifinal 3
2015 New Hampshire 7–5 5–3 T–4th L NCAA Division I First Round
2016 New Hampshire 8–5 6–2 T–2nd L NCAA Division I Second Round 17
2017 New Hampshire 9–5 5–3 T–4th L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal
2018 New Hampshire 4–7 3–5 9th
New Hampshire Wildcats (Colonial Athletic Association) (2020–2021)
2020–21 New Hampshire 0–1 0–1 7th (North)
2021 New Hampshire 3–8 2–6 11th
New Hampshire: 157–104 100–72
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.

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.

External links

New Hampshire Wildcats head football coaches

# denotes interim head coach

Eddie Robinson Award winners
AFCA Division I FCS Coach of the Year Award winners
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