Mike McCarthy

Michael John McCarthy (born November 10, 1963) is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL).

In 1984, McCarthy attended Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, playing one season for the Fighting Artichokes football team.

He then transferred to Baker University, an NAIA school located in Baldwin City, Kansas.

McCarthy was a two-time all-conference tight end.

In 1986 McCarthy was captain of the team, which finished the season as the national runner-up in NAIA Division II.

In 1987, McCarthy earned a B.S. in business administration.

In 1987, Duane Dirk, the defensive coordinator at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, hired McCarthy as a defensive graduate assistant (GA).

Over the next two years, McCarthy focused on linebackers and defensive ends.

After serving as a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State from 1987 to 1988, McCarthy returned home to Pittsburgh.

During his time as the defensive graduate assistant, McCarthy pursued a master of science degree; he graduated with a M.S. in Sports Administration in 1989.

On July 30, 1989, McCarthy contacted Mike Gottfried, the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh, looking for a coaching job, but no positions were available.

McCarthy was told to mail his resume.

McCarthy later showed up at Gottfried's office without an appointment to introduce himself.

Two days later, one of Gottfried's assistants resigned, and McCarthy was offered a volunteer coach position without pay.

McCarthy later worked under coach Paul Hackett.

McCarthy served as a graduate assistant for three seasons before coaching wide receivers during the 1992 season.

Initially, he also worked the night shift on the Pennsylvania Turnpike as a toll collector during the off-season to supplement his income.

McCarthy stated that he spent his time in the tollbooth reviewing the University of Pittsburgh playbook.

In 1993, McCarthy and Paul Hackett left Pittsburgh and were hired by the Kansas City Chiefs under head coach Marty Schottenheimer.

McCarthy worked two years as an offensive quality control assistant.

As Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy hired six former quality control coaches to serve as his position coaches.

In 1993 and 1994, McCarthy worked with Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana.

In 1995, McCarthy became quarterbacks coach for the Chiefs, overseeing Rich Gannon, Elvis Grbac, and Steve Bono.

McCarthy's signal callers threw 52 interceptions — the lowest in the American Football Conference (AFC) during the years from 1995 through 1998.

From 2006 to 2018, he was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.

In 2011, McCarthy led the team to a win in Super Bowl XLV over his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

McCarthy was previously the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints.

During his 17 seasons as a head coach in the NFL, McCarthy has an overall regular season record of 167–102–2.

He is among the only five head coaches (Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, Andy Reid, and Bill Belichick) to lead one franchise to eight straight playoff appearances.

McCarthy is second to Curly Lambeau in all-time wins leading the Packers.

McCarthy was born and raised in Pittsburgh, in the blue-collar neighborhood of Greenfield.

His mother, Ellen McCarthy, was a secretary who also worked in restaurants and for the Peace & Justice Center.

His father, Joe McCarthy Jr., was a firefighter for the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau and an officer for the Pittsburgh Police.

He also owned a bar called Joe McCarthy's Bar and Grill, which Mike spent his Sundays cleaning before church.

McCarthy was raised as a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

McCarthy is one of five siblings.

He has three sisters, Colleen, Ellen, and Kellie, and a brother, Joseph III (d. 2015).

McCarthy attended St. Rosalia primary school, where he played basketball.

He later made annual donations to the school.

McCarthy attended Bishop Boyle High School.