Pop McKale

American collegiate athletics director and coach (1887–1967)

James Fred "Pop" McKale (June 12, 1887 – June 1, 1967) was an American football and baseball player, coach of football, basketball, baseball, and track, and college athletics administrator. He is best known for his four decade association with the University of Arizona. He served as athletic director at U of A from 1914 to 1957. He served as Arizona's head football coach from 1914 to 1930, compiling a record of 80–32–6. McKale was also the head basketball coach at Arizona from 1914 to 1921, tallying a mark of 49–12, and the head baseball coach at the school from 1915 to 1919 and again from 1922 to 1949, amassing a record of 304–118–7. McKale was inducted into the Arizona Sportsmen Hall of Fame in 1959 and was a charter member of the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 1976. The McKale Center, the University of Arizona's home basketball venue, was opened in 1973 and named in McKale's honor.

McKale was born in Lansing, Michigan to William H. and Clara (Bateman) McKale on June 12, 1887. He graduated from Lansing High School in 1905. While enrolled at Albion College, McKale competed in baseball, football, and long jump. He graduated with a degree in history and chemistry in 1910. He instead decided to become a teacher and accepted a position in Superior, Wisconsin. McKale coached baseball from 1915 to 1949, achieving a record of 302 wins and 102 losses. Salmon was the student body president, starting quarterback, catcher for the baseball team, Sigma Nu member, and member of multiple student honorary organizations. McKale visited Salmon every day in the hospital until Salmon's death on October 19. During his last visit, McKale asked if Salmon had a message for the football team. Salmon replied "Tell them tell them to bear down." McKale told the football team of Salmon's message during a pregame talk before their next game. McKale was also interested in history, with his primary focus upon George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. His book, Abraham Lincoln: The Politician, was published in 1957.