Celebrating a life

The title "Coach" barely scratches the surface.

“John McVay was a father figure, mentor and a coach,” said Mark Ellison, a 1971 University of Dayton graduate. “We could go to him with anything, and he would always have a listening ear and do whatever he could to help.”

During his tenure as the Dayton Flyers head football coach from 1965 to 1972, McVay was able to bring out the best in his players and create an environment that fostered lifelong friendships.

“My feeling is that our bonding came, in large part, from Coach McVay focusing on his RNR approach — Results Not Recognition,” said Mike McDowell ’70. “It fostered and underscored our reliance on each other in our efforts toward our team concept of improved performance. This also helped create bonds with and among his UD football players that, in many cases, have lasted over half a century.”

Those relationships resulted in more than 150 former players, coaches and family members coming together to honor McVay at a celebration of life banquet April 10 at the Presidential Banquet Center in Dayton. McVay — who followed up his Flyers stint with a legendary career with the San Francisco 49ers — died in November at the age of 91. The former 49ers general manager earned five Super Bowl rings during his tenure and is credited with acquiring 50 All-Pro players, but it was his dedication to the Flyers program that was celebrated at the banquet.

“Each one of us could tell a story about Coach McVay helping us as individuals off the football field,” said Jim Place ’69. “This celebration was a small way of saying thank you.”

The attendees commemorated their shared past and spoke of the impact their coach had long after they left campus.

“When I came to the University of Dayton to play football, little did I know how much UD would be a part of my life for all these years — becoming a Flyer changed my life.”

“When I came to the University of Dayton to play football, little did I know how much UD would be a part of my life for all these years — becoming a Flyer changed my life,” Billy Mayo ’68 said. “Playing under Coach McVay and his staff brought a sense of direction.”

“My lifelong relationship with UD began by joining McVay’s program in 1972 as a freshman preferred walk-on where he expected everyone to give their absolute best all the time,” said Will Place ’76. “The lessons learned from Coach McVay and his staff — hard work, dedication respect and positive relationships — are the reason for my successful career.” 

That sentiment was shared by many at the banquet.

“To this day, I cherish my time spent with Coach McVay,” said Dr. Tim Quinn ’73.

The McVay football legacy continues today as Sean McVay — who became the youngest (at 36) head coach in NFL history to capture a Super Bowl championship when the Rams beat the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI in 2022 — considers himself fortunate to be John McVay’s grandson.

“My grandpa meant so much to me and our family and really to everybody that he touched,” Sean McVay said. “I can’t think of a better example of someone who was so consistent with the character he had, the way he treated people, the relationships that he developed and built that really were sustainable and meant something with real depth, the consistency at which he always handled both the good and the challenging times. I think about him all the time and how fortunate I’ve been just to have McVay as my last name because of the legacy he set.”