Quick Facts
Biography
Richard F. MacPherson (November 4, 1930 – August 8, 2017) was an American football coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1971 to 1977 and at Syracuse University from 1981 to 1990, compiling a career college football record of 111–73–5. MacPherson was the head coach of the National Football League's New England Patriots from 1991 to 1992, tallying a mark of 8–24. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2009.
Coaching career
MacPherson's record at Syracuse was 66–46–4 and included an undefeated season in 1987, when his team finished 11–0–1 and tied Auburn in the 1988 Sugar Bowl. After the 1990 season he left Syracuse to become head coach of the New England Patriots and was replaced by assistant Paul Pasqualoni. MacPherson coached the Pats from 1991 to 1992 and received strong consideration for Coach of the Year honors in 1991, turning around a team that went 1–15 in 1990 and leading them to a 6–10 record in his first season. However, in his second season the team started four different quarterbacks and went 2–14. MacPherson was subsequently fired at the end of the season.
MacPherson also served as an assistant coach with the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns.
Later life
MacPherson provided commentary during radio coverage of Syracuse football games for several seasons. He was honored as the Grand Marshal at the 28th Annual Syracuse St. Patrick's Parade in 2010.
MacPherson died surrounded by his family at the Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, New York on August 8, 2017, at the age of 86.
Head coaching record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMass Redmen/Minutemen (Yankee Conference) (1971–1977) | |||||||||
| 1971 | UMass | 4–4–1 | 3–1–1 | T–1st | |||||
| 1972 | UMass | 9–2 | 5–0 | 1st | W Boardwalk | ||||
| 1973 | UMass | 6–5 | 4–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1974 | UMass | 5–6 | 4–2 | T–1st | |||||
| 1975 | UMass | 8–2 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1976 | UMass | 5–5 | 3–2 | 2nd | |||||
| 1977 | UMass | 8–3 | 5–0 | 1st | L NCAA Division II Quarterfinal | ||||
| UMass: | 45–27–1 | 27–8–1 | |||||||
| Syracuse Orangemen (NCAA Division I-A Independent) (1981–1990) | |||||||||
| 1981 | Syracuse | 4–6–1 | |||||||
| 1982 | Syracuse | 2–9 | |||||||
| 1983 | Syracuse | 6–5 | |||||||
| 1984 | Syracuse | 6–5 | |||||||
| 1985 | Syracuse | 7–5 | L Cherry | ||||||
| 1986 | Syracuse | 5–6 | |||||||
| 1987 | Syracuse | 11–0–1 | T Sugar | 4 | 4 | ||||
| 1988 | Syracuse | 10–2 | W Hall of Fame | 12 | 13 | ||||
| 1989 | Syracuse | 8–4 | W Peach | ||||||
| 1990 | Syracuse | 7–4–2 | W Aloha | 21 | |||||
| Syracuse: | 66–46–4 | ||||||||
| Total: | 111–73–5 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title | |||||||||
| |||||||||
NFL
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| NE | 1991 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4th in AFC East | – | – | – | – |
| NE | 1992 | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 5th in AFC East | – | – | – | – |
| NE Total | 8 | 24 | 0 | .250 | – | – | – | – | ||
| Total | 8 | 24 | 0 | .250 | – | – | – | – | ||
Coaching tree
Assistant coaches under Dick MacPherson who became NCAA head coaches:
- Gary Blackney: Bowling Green (1991–2000)
- Randy Edsall: Connecticut (1999–2010), Maryland (2011–2015), Connecticut (2017–present)
- Bob Pickett: Massachusetts (1978–1983)
- Jim Tressel: Youngstown State (1986–2000), Ohio State (2001–2010)