Ralph McKinzie
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1, 1894 Winterset, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | December 7, 1990 (aged 96) Eureka, Illinois, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1914 | Oklahoma Methdodist |
| 1916–1917 | Eureka |
| 1919–1920 | Eureka |
| Basketball | |
| c. 1916–1921 | Eureka |
| Basketball | |
| c. 1916–1921 | Eureka |
| Positions | Fullback, Halfback (football) Guard (basketball) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1921–1937 | Eureka |
| 1938–1939 | Wartburg |
| Basketball | |
| 1921–1937 | Eureka |
| 1938–1940 | Wartburg |
| 1940–1948 | Northern Illinois |
| Baseball | |
| 1945 | Northern Illinois |
| 1949–1956 | Northern Illinois |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1921–1938 | Eureka |
| 1938–1940 | Wartburg |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 36–91–11 (football) 218–211–1 (basketball) 70–90 (baseball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Baseball 2 IIAC (1950–1951) | |
Ralph Clyde "Mac" McKinzie (October 1, 1894 – December 7, 1990) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach and athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois from 1921 to 1937 and Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa from 1938 to 1939. At Eureka, McKinzie was the football coach for Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States.[1]
McKinzie was born on October 1, 1894, in Winterset, Iowa, to John William (1860–1951) and Sarah Minnie Brassfield McKinzie (1871–1950).[2][3] A native of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, McKinzie began his college career at Methodist University of Oklahoma—now known as Oklahoma City University—on a football scholarship.[2] In 1916, he transferred to Eureka College, where he played football as a fullback in 1916, 1917, 1919, and 1920. He also earned four varsity letters in basketball and three in baseball. He was twice elected captain of the football teams and once as captain of the baseball team. McKinzie served with the United States Army from 1918 to 1919, and was wounded in France.[4]
McKinzie received a Master of Arts degree from University of Iowa. The same year, he left Eureka to become athletic director and coach at Wartburg.[5]
McKinzie died on December 7, 1990, at Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Eureka.[2] In 1933, Eureka College named its football field, McKinzie Field, after him.[6]
Head coaching record
Football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eureka Red Devils (Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1921–1937) | |||||||||
| 1921 | Eureka | 5–2 | |||||||
| 1922 | Eureka | 5–3 | 4–3 | ||||||
| 1923 | Eureka | 4–4 | 4–4 | T–10th | |||||
| 1924 | Eureka | 3–4–1 | 3–4–1 | 12th | |||||
| 1925 | Eureka | 5–4 | 5–4 | 11th | |||||
| 1926 | Eureka | 0–6–1 | 0–6–1 | 21st | |||||
| 1927 | Eureka | 0–9 | 0–9 | 21st | |||||
| 1928 | Eureka | 3–4–1 | 3–4–1 | 12th | |||||
| 1929 | Eureka | 3–3–2 | 3–3–2 | T–12th | |||||
| 1930 | Eureka | 2–6 | 2–6 | 18th | |||||
| 1931 | Eureka | 3–4–1 | 2–4–1 | T–15th | |||||
| 1932 | Eureka | 1–4–1 | 1–3–1 | T–15th | |||||
| 1933 | Eureka | 0–7 | 0–7 | 21st | |||||
| 1934 | Eureka | 0–3–2 | 0–3–2 | T–16th | |||||
| 1935 | Eureka | 0–6 | 0–6 | 20th | |||||
| 1936 | Eureka | 2–5–1 | 2–5–1 | 17th | |||||
| 1937 | Eureka | 0–6 | 0–6 | 20th | |||||
| Eureka: | 36–80–10 | ||||||||
| Wartburg Knights (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1938–1939) | |||||||||
| 1938 | Wartburg | 0–6 | 0–5 | 13th | |||||
| 1939 | Wartburg | 0–5–1 | 0–4–1 | T–12th | |||||
| Wartburg: | 0–11–1 | 0–9–1 | |||||||
| Total: | 36–91–11 | ||||||||
References
- ^ Cannon, Lou (2000). President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime. New York: Public Affairs. ISBN 1-891620-91-6.
- ^ a b c "Obituaries; Ralph McKinzie". Woodford County Journal. Eureka, Illinois. December 13, 1990. p. 11. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Obituary; John William McKinzie". Blackwell Journal-Tribune. Blackwell, Oklahoma. September 6, 1951. p. 5. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "It's Coach McKenzie". Woodford County Journal. Eureka, Illinois. May 19, 1921. p. 4. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Wartburg Gets Ralph McKinzie". The Des Moines Register. Des Moines, Iowa. August 27, 1938. p. 8. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Eureka College football legend "Mac" McKinzie dies". Woodford County Journal. Eureka, Illinois. December 13, 1990. pp. 1–2. Retrieved January 12, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Eureka Football Record Book" (PDF). Eureka College. p. 74. Retrieved January 9, 2026.