PHONE: (419) 783-2583

FAX: (419) 783-2369

EMAIL: cmccord@defiance.edu

Craig McCord is in his eighth season at Defiance and will handle the tags of the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach for the fifth-straight year.

McCord is an Ashland University graduate and received his master’s degree from Bowling Green State University.

McCord came to Ayersville High in 1974 and started the football program from scratch. In 30 years he turned the Pilots into 12-time league champions, notched five undefeated regular seasons, made eight appearances in the state playoffs and earned a runner-up finish in the state in 1986.

McCord was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in April of 2006 and added another prestigious accolade in the fall of 2011, when Ayersville High dedicated its football field in honor of its inaugural coach.

During his 35-year career as a high school coach, McCord tutored 231 all-conference players, 39 All-Ohio players and two Ohio Offensive Backs of the Year. He also saw 18 of his prep standouts move on to play in the collegiate ranks.

The list of accomplishments does not stop there however, as McCord was also honored as a Jennings Foundation Scholar three times and received the 200-Victory Award from the OHSFCA. McCord was named The Crescent-News Coach of the Year three times, coached the Defiance Seven County All-Star Game and co-coached the Northwest Ohio Regional All-Star Game.

McCord thrived as a head coach on the court as well, leading the women’s basketball program at Ayersville for 15 seasons. During his tenure, he compiled a 186-143 mark and took the Lady Pilots to the final four in 1992. After the end of the 1992 season, McCord was named as the women’s basketball Coach of the Year by The Crescent-News.

Craig and his wife, Patti, have three grown children and are the grandparents of nine.