Y C McNease
Biographical details
Born(1936-02-01)February 1, 1936
Raleigh, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedMarch 7, 2023(2023-03-07) (aged 87)
Monticello, Florida, U.S.
Alma materFlorida State University, 1963
Playing career
1961–1962Florida State
Position(s)End, center, linebacker, fullback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963Florida State (assistant)
1964Wichita State (assistant)
1965Texas Western (assistant)
1966–1967Michigan (assistant)
1968–1969Idaho
1970Kansas State (assistant)
1971–1972UTEP (assistant)
Head coaching record
Overall7–13
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Big Sky (1968)
Y C McNease
Allegiance United States
Service/branch U.S. Marine Corps
Years of service1956–1959
Battles/warsCold War

Y C McNease (February 1, 1936 – March 7, 2023)[1] was an American college football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Idaho for the 1968 and 1969 seasons.

Playing career

Born in Raleigh, Mississippi, McNease graduated from Leland High School in Leland in 1956,[2] and joined the U.S. Marines.[3] After his three years of military service, he attended junior college and transferred to Florida State, where he was on the roster for the 1961 and 1962 seasons as an end and center,[4][5][6] and also played linebacker and fullback.[7] Well into his twenties and losing his hair, McNease was nicknamed "Pappy" by his younger FSU teammates.[8]

Coaching career

Following his playing career, McNease was an assistant coach for five seasons at four schools; Florida State, Wichita State, Texas-El Paso, and Michigan.[9][10] He was named the head coach at the University of Idaho in January 1968 at age 31, at an annual salary of $16,800.[11] McNease succeeded Steve Musseau and placed a new emphasis on the passing game;[3] the Vandals were 5–5 and 3–1 in the Big Sky in his first season,[12] but they struggled with injuries and slipped to 2–8 with only one win in conference in 1969.[13][14][15]

After just two seasons at Idaho, McNease was dismissed in May 1970 following spring practices. Though reasons were not fully disclosed by the university, it was attributed to his disciplinary tactics and player unrest.[1][11] Additionally, an altercation reportedly occurred with a player in a Memorial Gym hallway and resulted in a ripped coat.[16] Several months after his dismissal, McNease filed a $1 million breach of contract lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the university.[17] An out-of-court settlement was reached in 1973 for just under $24,800.[18]

McNease coached as an assistant for the next three seasons at Kansas State (1970) and back at UTEP, until his resignation in late October 1972, which followed the resignation of head coach Bobby Dobbs.[19]

After coaching

McNease left coaching and worked in the insurance and financial services industry, with stops in Athens, Georgia, and back on the Palouse in the Moscow-Pullman area in the early 1980s.[20][21][22] As of 2010, he was a resident of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.[23][24]

Name

His unique first name is simply "Y C" and is unpunctuated; his last name is pronounced in three syllables (Mac-Nee-See).[7][25]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Idaho Vandals (Big Sky Conference) (1968–1969)
1968 Idaho 5–5 3–1 T–1st
1969 Idaho 2–8 1–3 4th
Idaho: 7–13 4–4
Total: 7–13
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ a b "Robbins to replace McNease at Idaho". Tri-City Herald. Associated Press. May 17, 1970. p. 38.
  2. ^ directory.lhsreunion.org - 1956 - accessed 2012-05-04
  3. ^ a b Payne, Bob (January 24, 1968). "The pass is here". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 11.
  4. ^ nolefan.org - Florida State football - Y C McNease - accessed 2012-04-05
  5. ^ nolefan.org - Florida State football - year-by-year rosters - accessed 2012-04-05
  6. ^ "Y C McNease with taped knee, 1962". DigiNole. (Florida State University). Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Vandal post goes to Michigan aide". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. January 11, 1968. p. 21.
  8. ^ nolefan.org - Florida State football - 1961 - year-in-review - accessed 2012-04-05
  9. ^ "McNease appointed Idaho Vandal football coach". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). January 11, 1968. p. 14.
  10. ^ "McNease appointed new coach at Idaho". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. January 11, 1968. p. 18.
  11. ^ a b "McNease fired from Vandal football coaching job". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). May 16, 1970. p. 12.
  12. ^ "Athletics (1968–69)". Gem of the Mountains. 1969. p. 240.
  13. ^ "Steve Olson's future dim". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 4, 1969. p. 10.
  14. ^ "Injury-hampered Vandals will face Colorado State". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 10, 1969. p. 21.
  15. ^ "McNease encouraged". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. November 23, 1969. p. 12.
  16. ^ "Idaho officials debating possible coaching change". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). May 9, 1970. p. 12.
  17. ^ "Settlement reached in McNease suit against U of I". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. June 14, 1973. p. 15.
  18. ^ "Settlement approved by McNease". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. June 13, 1973. p. 15.
  19. ^ "Resignations flow at UTEP". Prescott Courier. (Arizona). Associated Press. October 25, 1972. p. 3.
  20. ^ "Saturday smorgasbord". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. November 8, 1980. p. 11.
  21. ^ "classified ads". Lewiston Morning Tribune. November 7, 1980. p. 4D.
  22. ^ "classified ads". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Idaho. January 23, 1981. p. 5D.
  23. ^ doi.idaho.gov - insurance - accessed 2012-04-05
  24. ^ "Claudine Bounds". Birmingham News. (Alabama). (obituary). September 30, 2005. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  25. ^ "New coach: Idaho post to McNease". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 12, 1968. p. 19.
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