Bill MacDermott

Not to be confused with Bill McDermott.

Bill MacDermott

Biographical details
Born	(1936-05-14)May 14, 1936 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died	May 5, 2016(2016-05-05) (aged 79) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Playing career
1950s	Trinity (CT)
Position(s)	Offensive lineman
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1966–1970	Wesleyan (assistant)
1971–1986	Wesleyan
1987–1989	Cal Poly (assistant)
1990	Toronto Argonauts (assistant)
1991–1992	Orlando Thunder (OL)
1992	Montreal Alouettes (assistant)
1992–1996	Edmonton Eskimos (OL)
1997	Winnipeg Blue Bombers (AHC)
1997–1998	San Diego Chargers (TE)
1999–2006	Edmonton Eskimos (OL)
2008	Toronto Argonauts (OL)
2010	Edmonton Huskies
2011	Saskatchewan Roughriders (RB)
2012–2013	Spruce Grove Panthers (RB)
2013–2015	Ottawa (OL)
2016	Alberta (OL)
Head coaching record
Overall	66–59–3

Bill MacDermott (May 14, 1936 – May 5, 2016) was an American gridiron football coach. He played college football at Trinity College. After graduating from Trinity, he spent the next 50 years as a football coach at the college and professional levels. He was the head football coach at Wesleyan University from 1971 to 1986 and has also held coaching positions with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the Orlando Thunder, San Diego Chargers, Montreal Alouettes, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, and Edmonton Eskimos.

Biography

A native of Providence, Rhode Island, MacDermott graduated in 1960 from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.^[1] He began his coaching career in 1961 at Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut. He spent six years as the football and wrestling coach at the Hopkins School.^[1] From 1966 to 1970, he was an assistant football coach at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. He was named Wesleyan's head football coach in December 1970 following the retirement of Don Russell.^[1] He continued to hold that position through the 1986 season.^[2] In 16 years as the head coach at Wesleyan, MacDermott compiled a record of 66–59–3.^[3] His 66 wins rank him third among all head coaches in the history of the Wesleyan football program.^[3] During his tenure at Wesleyan, MacDermott coached Bill Belichick, who would himself go on to have a distinguished coaching career in the NFL. MacDermott also served as the wrestling coach at Wesleyan.

MacDermott has also been a football coach for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the Orlando Thunder (World League) and the San Diego Chargers (tight ends coach from 1997 to 1998). He later coached in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, and Edmonton Eskimos.^[4][5] In 2010, he took over as the head coach of the Edmonton Huskies. MacDermott died of congestive heart failure on May 5, 2016, in Edmonton.^[6]

References

1. "Macdermott Named Wesleyan Coach". The Day, New London, Connecticut. December 18, 1970.
2. "Spencer Named Football Coach At Wesleyan". Schenectady Gazette. June 6, 1987.
3. "ALL-TIME COACHING RECORDS". Wesleyan University. Archived from the original on June 1, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
4. Tom Yantz. "Bill MacDemott". Toronto Argonauts. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2010.
5. Yantz, Tom (November 10, 2002). "FORMER CARDINAL, LINING UP ESKIMOS; BILL MACDERMOTT: WESLEYAN". Hartford Courant. p. E.8. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012.
6. "Edmonton football community mourns loss of Bill MacDermott".