Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1986
KSU CAREER: Joined the Golden Flashes staff in the summer of 1949…Coached ends and linemen under Trevor Rees…Remained with the Flash gridiron staff for 11 seasons and was a member of one of Kent’s most illustrious coaching staffs which included Rees, Frank Smouse, Rick Forzano, and “Moose” Paskert…One of the most respected and well-liked coaches in KSU history…HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: Graduated from Cleveland Rhodes High School…POST KSU CAREER: Moved on to coach in the National Football League joining the staff on the Baltimore Colts under head coach Weeb Ewback in 1959…Was the offensive backfield coach for the Colts under Don Shula, 1963-69…Became the head coach of the Colts in 1970…Guided the Colts to the Super Bowl Championship in 1970…Named head coach of the Detroit Lions late in 1972 and coached them in 1973 compiling a 6-7-1 record…Well respected among his coaching peers and players as well…Don Shula said of his former assistant “Mac made a lot of lasting friends. He was a fine football man, but more important, a fine man.”…He knows the pro game like Einstein”, said Rick Forzano…Browns owner Art Modell described Mac by saying, “Of the many great men who have figured prominently in the strong structure of the NFL, Don McCafferty will always rank near the top as a man, as a coach, and most importantly, as a human being.”…COLLEGIATE CAREER: Played at Ohio State under Paul Brown, 1941 & 1942…Member of the Buckeye’s National Championship team of ’42 9-1 record…Graduated from OSU in 1947…Earned his M.Ed from Kent State in 1952…PERSONAL: Born March 12, 1921…Died on July 28, 1974…Played professional football with the New York Giants for one year…Career shortened by a serious knee injury…Prior to coming to Kent State he worked in the Cleveland Recreation and wife, June, had four children.
