By Mark Kerr, Senior Communications Officer

Principal Daniel Woolf announced today the naming of the artificial turf field at west campus in honour of long-time Queen’s football assistant coaches Bill Miklas Sr. and Hal McCarney.

“Miklas-McCarney Field is a fitting and deserving tribute for two men who were often found on Queen’s fields dedicating a great deal of their free time to coaching and mentoring football student-athletes,” says Principal Woolf. “It will stand as an enduring reminder of their passion for Queen’s and the positive impact they had on countless individuals.”

Bill Miklas served as an assistant coach for the Queen's football team for more than 30 years.

Mr. Miklas (Arts’63, MBA’65) was an all-star football player with Queen’s. He went on to serve as an assistant coach for more than 30 years in addition to his academic work as a professor and associate dean at Queen’s School of Business.

“For over 40 years, from the time he arrived as an 18-year-old undergraduate student, Bill Miklas’ life was intimately tied to Queen’s athletics, especially to its football program,” says Merv Daub (Com’66), a former teammate, fellow coach, academic colleague and friend.

In 1994, Mr. Miklas’ contributions to university football were formally recognized when he received the Gino Fracas Trophy, a national award for the outstanding volunteer assistant coach in Canadian university football. He accepted the Distinguished Service Award, one of Queen’s highest awards for exemplary contributions to the university, in 2001. That same year, Mr. Miklas died at the age of 60.

Mr. Miklas had a lasting influence on his players, both on and off the field.

“When you are young, real confidence is in short supply and hard to acquire. It is also badly needed, as you move from organized education to messy life. Bill Miklas understood this. He knew that of all the things that he would teach us on the pitch – including how to slyly hold a defender without drawing the notice of the referee – the goal was not a particular football skill but a ‘life’ skill, a sense of self that would translate into precious confidence,” says Charlie Galunic (Sci’88), who suited up for the Gaels from 1984 to 1987, became a Rhodes Scholar before earning a PhD and going on to hold an academic position in Europe.

Hal McCarney (middle) chats with Queen's football coach Pat Sheahan and former Gaels offensive lineman Matt O'Donnell. Mr. McCarney attended games and practices and offered his advice and suppport even after retiring from coaching in 1973.

Mr. McCarney (Arts’50) arrived at Queen’s in 1948. In his final season with the Gaels in 1951, he won the Jenkins Trophy as the top graduating male athlete. After hanging up his cleats, he remained with the football team as an assistant coach under Frank Tindall.

After retiring from coaching in 1973 after more than 20 years on the sidelines, Mr. McCarney remained a fervent supporter of the Queen’s football program. He attended games and practices and offered advice and support to coaches and program staff. He died in 2009 at the age of 81.

“Naming a Queen’s field of competitive endeavour in honour of Hal McCarney is most appropriate. Competition was his life blood and teaching young men the attributes for succeeding in such endeavours was his forte. Hal’s unparalleled exuberance and passion for Queen’s was infectious. He taught and inspired those he coached to recognize that confidence is the key to success and that feeling confident is the product of perseverance, prior investigation of your adversary, innovative planning and thorough preparation,” says Peter C.P. Thompson, QC, (Arts’62, Law’65).

Mr. Miklas and Mr. McCarney were two of the earliest inductees into the Queen’s Football Hall of Fame in 2003. During their time at Queen’s, both Mr. Miklas and Mr. McCarney left their mark in many areas - cultivating relationships with students and athletes alike, creating lasting memories embedded in the Queen’s spirit, and showcasing the significance of sport to the Queen’s experience.

“Mr. Miklas and Mr. McCarney are Queen’s sporting legends, inextricably linked to the football program and athletics and recreation,” says Tom Harris, Vice-Principal (Advancement). “The field naming recognizes their significant contributions to the university and their deep devotion to Queen’s and the young student-athletes they coached.”

The Board of Trustees approved the field naming earlier this year. An official dedication ceremony for Miklas-McCarney Field will take place in the fall.