Remembering Leo McKillip, one of McCook's finest

In 1946 the McCook football team was receiving rave reviews all across Nebraska. In that day McCook High competed as a Class A school, in the West Big Ten, with perhaps the smallest enrollment in Class A. McCook’s school population was dwarfed by the Omaha and Lincoln schools, as well as by Kearney, Grand Island and Fremont. The Bison squad consisted of just 36 players. They were extremely quick and played together well as a team, but they were very small, by today’s standards, averaging just 168#. The team was led by Leo McKillip, considered the most outstanding and versatile athlete in Nebraska prep circles at that time.

The ’46 football season began with McCook ranked at #9, but over the season, as the victories mounted the Bison gradually moved up the ratings list. A much anticipated meeting with Grand Island, led by another gridiron sensation, Bobby Reynolds, failed to live up to its advance billing. With Reynolds out with an injury, the Bison romped to a 41-7 victory. Later, with Reynolds at full speed, Grand Island defeated then #1 Lincoln High, paving the way for the undefeated Bison promotion to #1 in the state at the end of the season.

McKillip was a true triple threat on the football field. He excelled as a runner and passer, as well as a punter. His outstanding play led the Omaha World Herald’s Gregg McBride to refer to the McCook team as “McKillip and Company”. McKillip was also very durable. Over a long season he suffered his share of bumps, sprains, and bruises, yet on game days he still managed to play his typical strong, all round game.

During McKillip’s high school career he led the Bison to a three year football record of 23-4-1. He was named to the Class A All-State team as a quarterback one year, and was All-State at fullback another year, besides maintaining his position as a stalwart on defense. He was an All-State basketball player on strong McCook teams that qualified for the State Tournament three straight years, losing to Creighton Prep, Lincoln High, and Grand Island, all eventual State Champs.

In track, sprinter/hurdler McKillip led McCook to two state championships. In 1947 I was at the U of N. At that time the State Track Meet was still held in Lincoln. I remember that Leo’s picture was posted in our Co-op dining room, along with the schedule of his races at the State Track Meet—-the interest in this athlete from Western Nebraska was that strong.

It was generally assumed that Leo would become a Cornhusker, and optimism was high that football fortunes at NU would pick up dramatically when Tom Novak, Leo McKillip and Bobby Reynolds would all be playing for the Huskers, after almost ten years of dismal seasons.

Therefore, when McKillip announced that Notre Dame Coach, Frank Leahy had invited him to play for Notre Dame, and he had accepted, there was real anguish among NU fans. In 1948 the Irish came to Lincoln to play the Huskers. Though Leo lettered in football at Notre Dame three years, he was definitely not a star on teams that were loaded with All Americans, won 40 straight games, and captured the #1 Spot in ’47 and ‘49.

The ’48 game with Nebraska, in Lincoln, was more like a track meet. Notre Dame had little trouble with the Huskers, under Coach Potsy Clark, and won the game easily, 44-13. Late in the 2nd half, with the game well in hand Leo McKillip made his appearance with the Notre Dame squad, and surprisingly, was greeted with a chorus of boos from the few Nebraska fans who were still in the stadium—-they still had not forgiven McKillip for his defection to the Irish.

Years later McKillip talked about his decision to leave Nebraska for Notre Dame. He said that he had nothing against Nebraska, but even then had decided that his was to be a career in coaching and felt that learning from a coach like Frank Leahy was too good an opportunity to pass up—-the experience of playing on championship teams was just a bonus.

Said McKillip, “I was fortunate to play in the company of some great athletes, like Leon Hart, Johnny Lujack, and Johnny Lauer, all Heisman Trophy winners, and to play for one of the greatest coaches of all time…Just about everything I know about coaching I learned from Coach Frank Leahy.”

Graduating from Notre Dame Leo married his MHS sweetheart, Patsy Dutton, and spent two years in the Air Force Reserve in Nebraska. He also began his coaching career as a Graduate Assistant, coaching NU football. At the same time he also earned a Masters Degree in School Administration at NU. Later coaching stops included a year at Kimball High School, then 15 years at Idaho State U., where he served first as Defensive Coach, and finished up there as Head Football Coach.

In 1970 the McKillips (Leo, Patsy, sons, Blaine and Creighton) left Idaho State to join Leo’s brother, Don at St. Mary’s U., near Oakland CA. Don had been one of Nebraska’s most successful coaches, at Red Willow, and later at McCook College. As Athletic Director at St. Mary’s, Don tagged Leo to revive the school’s football program, which had been discontinued after WW II. In four years Leo had the St. Mary’s team successfully competing with the likes of Fresno State and San Francisco State. During this period he picked up a Ph.D from the U. of Idaho. This degree earned him his title of “Doctor of Defense” during his later coaching stints.

In 1974 McKillip joined the Canadian Football League, as Defensive Coordinator, first with the Edmonton Eskimos, and later with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, helping the Eskimos to the Grey Cup (Canada’s Super Bowl) three times in four years, with one Championship.

In 1982, with the birth of the United States Football League, McKillip was offered and accepted a position as Defensive Coordinator with the Washington Federals, of that (now defunct) League. Of that chapter in his life, McKillip says, “It was a good experience, but it (the League) never really had a chance…We had some NFL-caliber players, but I guess one NFL is enough. They (the Federals) still owe me some money!”

The folding of the USFL in 1985 left Leo McKillip out of a job, and approaching age 60 he wondered if he might be finished with coaching. Among other possibilities, he thought about opening a business, but when the Athletic Director at Dana College, at Blair NE, sought out McKillip to revive the school’s floundering football program, the coaching pull was just too strong and he knew he just had to accept. This proved to be Leo’s greatest coaching challenge, as well as his greatest coaching satisfaction.

In 1985 Dana’s football prospects were bleak. Only 30 players turned out for the first practice. There was no money for scholarships—-not even money for basic football equipment, like a blocking sled. And the school had not had a winning season in years.

But Dana was not without assets. On the team were Alan Pogue, quarterback, and Bryan Muschall, running back, who eventually became the best in school history at their respective positions—-and above all, The Dana Vikings wanted to win. By 1987 the Dana squad had swelled to 87 players and, with an 8-3 record Dana made the school’s first and only trip to the NAIA finals, where they lost a heartbreaker to Baker (KS) 37-35.

McKillip stayed at Dana College for eight years as Athletic Director and Football Coach, becoming the winningest coach in Dana football history. In 1987 he was named College Coach of the Year by the Omaha World Herald, joining brother, Don, who won that honor in 1963, at McCook Junior College. In 1996 he was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2000 he was inducted into the Dana College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Reflecting upon a lifetime of coaching, says McKillip, “If I had it to do over again, I would run the race the same way…In coaching you’re either in the penthouse or the outhouse. I’ve been in both places…Success in coaching is being in the right place at the right time and being proud of what you’ve done. I’ve been a successful coach.” Indeed!

LeoMcKillip, January 1929-December 2013, lived in retirement in Omaha. His beloved wife, Patsy passed away in 2000.

Source: Washington Co. Pilot-Tribune, Omaha World Herald, McCook Gazette Cent. Edition