MacPherson Chosen for UMass Hall of Fame

AMHERST, Mass. – Former Orange head football coach Dick MacPherson has been chosen for induction into the University of Massachusetts Athletic Hall of Fame. Now the color analyst on SU’s football radio broadcasts, MacPherson coached the Minutemen from 1971-77.

In his tenure at UMass, MacPherson guided the Minutemen to four Yankee Conference championships. In seven seasons, he went 45-27-1 and currently ranks third on UMass’ all-time victories list. MacPherson led the Minutemen to their only postseason bowl win, a 35-14 victory against Cal-Davis in the 1972 Boardwalk Bowl. He also coached UMass’ first-ever playoff team, taking the Minutemen to the 1977 Division II postseason. He coached 55 Minutemen to first-team all-conference accolades and seven student-athletes to first-team All-America status.

MacPherson coached at Syracuse for 10 seasons from 1981-90, compiling a 66-46-4 record. He led the Orange to 3-1-1 record in five bowl games during his tenure. MacPherson won National Coach of the Year honors in 1987 after leading Syracuse to an 11-0-1 record. He coached 10 All-Americans at SU, including 1987 Heisman Trophy runner-up Don McPherson. Following his stint at Syracuse, MacPherson coached the New England Patriots for two seasons. He currently ranks third on the SU all-time wins list.

MacPherson is one of six members of the UMass Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2004. The inductees will be honored in Amherst this winter.

MacPherson has also been chosen to speak at the 2005 AFCA Convention in Louisville, Ky. MacPherson will be a part of a “Legends” panel that will speak on Sunday, January 9. MacPherson and former Indiana head coach Bill Mallory will speak about defense.

Syracuse University Athletics

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