Longtime Syracuse football coach, former New England Patriots head coach and Old Town native Dick MacPherson has died at age 86.

MacPherson helped to rebuild the Syracuse football program back in the early 1980s. He coached the Orangemen to a 66-46-4 and was the second winningest coach in program history.

He took over the Patriots for two years before being replaced by Bill Parcells.

When Old Town High School began its Hall of Fame program in 2012, Coach Mac was inducted into that first class of honorees...

Richard "Dick" MacPherson - Old Town High School Graduate – 1948  Attended Maine Maritime Academy briefly and then served in the Air Force until 1954.  Attended Springfield College '54-'58 where he played football – including playing on an undefeated team in '56. He was captain his senior year.  Head Coach at UMass 1971-1977.  He took one team to the Board Walk bowl.  He was named New England Coach of the Year on two occasions.  Head Coach at Syracuse University 1981-1990.  He took his teams to several bowl games.  Head Coach of New England Patriots 1991-1992.  Won 4 Yankee Conference Championships (1971, 72, 74, 77).  Syracuse team finished 11-0-1 in 1987 tying Auburn in the Sugar Bowl.  American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1987.  Paul “Bear” Bryant College Coach of the Year in 1987.  Bobby Dodd College Coach of the Year in 1987.  Eddie Robinson College Coach of the Year in 1987.  Sporting News College Coach of the Year in 1987.  Walter Camp College Coach of the Year in 1987.  Inducted into the College Football Hall-of-Fame in 2009.  Head coaching record of 119-97-5 in 19 seasons.  Inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame '85.

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