Football Hall of Fame

Ralph ‘Mac’ McKinzie

Coach "Mac" is known as the "Ageless Coach" - and properly so. He continued to serve as a volunteer football coach at Eureka College at the wonderful age of 95.

His coaching career started at Eureka College in 1921 where he coached all sports through 1936. Later coaching positions took him to Wartbury College in Iowa and Northern Illinois University, where he became a legend as head basketball and baseball coach.

His retirement years brought him home to Eureka and the College he loved so dearly. He coached his first love- football - for 68 years. He said, "Football is a special game because it provides opportunities for growth in leadership, cooperation, and teamwork - to achieve a goal; it requires sacrifice, self-discipline and hard work."

One can't help but think of the positive influence "Mac" had on so many coaches, players and those he touched over the years. His best-known ex-football player is former President Ronald "Dutch" Reagan. McKinzie said, "He still calls me 'Coach' and I still call him 'Dutch.'"

"Coaching is in my blood," McKinzie said many times. "It hasn't always been fun, but I never lost interest in the game or the kids."