The Colorado Buffaloes and the world of college football lost a legend with the passing of Bill McCartney on Friday. At 84, McCartney left behind a remarkable legacy, both on and off the field, after battling dementia in his later years. Known affectionately as “Coach Mac,” he was the only coach to lead the Colorado Buffaloes to a national championship, cementing his place as a transformative figure in the program’s history.

Deion Sanders, the Buffaloes’ current head coach, paid heartfelt tribute to McCartney, acknowledging the profound impact he had on Colorado football. Sanders expressed his admiration through a touching social media post, highlighting McCartney’s influence on the program and his ability to shape both football players and men of strong character. “Coach Mac was an absolute legend on and off the field,” Sanders wrote. “He is fully ingrained in every fiber of the history of this program.”

McCartney’s career at Colorado spanned 13 seasons, during which he compiled a record of 93-55-5. His tenure included 10 consecutive winning seasons in league play, three straight Big Eight titles from 1989 to 1991, and a national championship in 1990. That championship season, capped off with an 11-1-1 record and a victory over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl, stands as the pinnacle of Colorado’s football history. McCartney’s ability to guide the Buffaloes through the nation’s toughest schedule in 1990 underscored his coaching brilliance.

Beyond the wins and accolades, McCartney’s impact resonated deeply with those who worked with him. Colorado athletic director Rick George, whom McCartney hired as recruiting coordinator in 1987, shared a personal tribute, reflecting on McCartney’s commitment to faith, family, and accountability. George recounted a recent visit with his mentor, cherishing the chance to say goodbye. “Coach Mac was an incredible man who taught me about the importance of faith, family, and being a good husband, father, and grandfather,” George said. “The mark that he left on CU football and our athletic department will be hard to replicate.”

Saying goodbye to a legend, but Bill McCartney’s story lives on

McCartney’s success extended beyond the field, as he built a program that finished in the national top 20 for six consecutive years from 1989 to 1994. During that span, Colorado’s 36-3-3 conference record was unmatched nationwide. His contributions were recognized in 2013 with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

As Sanders continues his journey to rebuild Colorado’s football program, he draws inspiration from McCartney’s unwavering passion and commitment. “Many of the characteristics (McCartney) valued are what we are using to get this program back to the level he attained,” Sanders wrote. Coach Mac’s legacy will undoubtedly remain a guiding light for the Buffaloes and their fans for generations to come.

Bill McCartney, a three-time coach of the year in the Big Eight Conference who led the Colorado Buffaloes to their only national football title in 1990, has died. He was 84.

McCartney died Friday night “after a courageous journey with dementia,” according to a family statement.

“Coach Mac touched countless lives with his unwavering faith, boundless compassion, and enduring legacy as a leader, mentor and advocate for family, community and faith,” the family said in its statement. “As a trailblazer and visionary, his impact was felt both on and off the field, and his spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those he inspired.”

After playing college ball under Dan Devine at Missouri, McCartney started coaching high school football and basketball in Detroit. He then was hired onto the staff at Michigan, the only assistant ever plucked from the high school ranks by Bo Schembechler.

Schembechler chose wisely. As the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator during the 1980 season, McCartney earned Big Ten “Player” of the Week honors for the defensive scheme he devised to stop star Purdue quarterback Mark Herrmann.

“When I was 7 years old, I knew I was going to be a coach,” McCartney told The Gazette in 2013. “My friends, other kids at that age were going to be president, businessmen, attorneys, firemen. Ever since I was a little kid, I imitated my coaches, critiqued them, always followed and studied them.”

In 1982, McCartney took over a Colorado program that was coming off three straight losing seasons with a combined record of 7-26. After three more struggling seasons, McCartney turned things around to go to bowl games in nine out of 10 seasons starting in 1985, when he switched over to a wishbone offense.

His 1989 team was 11-0 when it headed to the Orange Bowl, where Notre Dame dashed Colorado’s hopes of a perfect season. McCartney and the Buffaloes, however, would get their revenge the following season.

After getting off to an uninspiring 1-1-1 start in 1990, Colorado won its next nine games to earn a No. 1 ranking and a rematch with the Fighting Irish. This time the Buffaloes prevailed, 10-9, and grabbed a share of the national title atop the AP poll (Georgia Tech was tops in the coaches’ poll).

McCartney won numerous coach of the year honors in 1989, and he was also Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1990. His teams went a combined 58-11-4 in his last six seasons before retiring (1989-94).

The Buffaloes finished in the AP Top 20 in each of those seasons, including No. 3 in McCartney’s final year.

“I was fortunate to be able to say goodbye to Coach in person last week,” Colorado athletic director Rick George, who worked under McCartney and was a longtime friend of his, said in a statement. “Coach Mac was an incredible man who taught me about the importance of faith, family and being a good husband, father and grandfather. He instilled discipline and accountability to all of us who worked and played under his leadership.

“The mark that he left on CU football and our athletic department will be hard to replicate.”

McCartney remains the winningest coach in Colorado history. He retired at age 54 with an overall record of 93-55-5 (.602) in 13 seasons, all with Colorado.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013. His family announced in 2016 that McCartney had been diagnosed with late-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“Here’s what football does: It teaches a boy to be a man,” McCartney told USA Today in 2017. “You say, ‘How does it do that?’ Well, what if you line up across from a guy who’s bigger, stronger, faster and tougher than you are? What do you do? Do you stay and play? Or do you turn and run? That’s what football does. You’re always going to come up against somebody who’s better than you are.

“That’s what life is. Life is getting knocked down and getting back up and getting back in the game.”

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.