New Hampshire head football coach Sean McDonnell retires

Posted December 01, 2021 6:00 am

The Associated Press

DURHAM, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire head football Coach Sean McDonnell announced his retirement Wednesday after leading the Wildcats for 23 years.

'œIt's time for a new face, new ideas and a new way of doing things around here," McDonnell said in a statement. 'œI can't begin to say thank you enough for the opportunities the University of New Hampshire has given to me: as a student, as an assistant coach and then as its head football coach. This has been the honor of a lifetime."

McDonnell's 157 career wins rank second in UNH history behind Bill Bowes' at 175, his former head coach and National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Famer.

The Wildcats had a 14-year run of NCAA playoff berths and 14 playoff victories from 2004-2017, including three conference championships.

McDonnell was a defensive back for the Wildcats from 1975-1978 and served eight seasons as an assistant coach at UNH, including five years as offensive coordinator.

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