Entering his third season in the Eagle program in the 2021-22 school year, Pat McCann returned to his home state to coach wide receivers for Eastern in the 2019 season. He also served as EWU’s recruiting coordinator in his first season, and in 2020-21 he replaced that with his current role of passing game coordinator.
In 2020-21, he coached a pair of All-Big Sky wide receivers in senior Talolo Limu-Jones (unanimimous first team) and sophomore Freddie Roberson (second team). Limu-Jones went on to earn second team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association and Stats Perform. He and Roberson combined for 81 receptions for 1,229 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games as the favorite targets for first team All-America quarterback Eric Barriere.
As a team, the Eagles ranked third in FCS in total offense (524.9 per game) after leading during the regular season. Eastern was also seventh in scoring (37.7) and fourth in passing (367.3) while finishing 5-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Sky with a five-game winning streak to end the regular season.
In his debut season, McCann helped coach sophomore Andrew Boston to third team All-Big Sky Conference honors, and senior Jayson Williams received honorable mention. The Eagles led FCS in total offense for the third time in school history with an average of 524.8 yards per game. Eastern was the only team in the division to rank in the top 24 in total offense, passing (317.1, fifth) and rushing (207.8, 19th), and were second in scoring (40.6).
In addition, EWU's recruiting class in 2019 was ranked No. 1 in the Big Sky and No. 2 in FCS. Eastern finished the 2019 season 7-5 overall and 6-2 in the Big Sky to finish with at least five league wins for the 13th-straight season.
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Formerly from Olympia, Wash., McCann came to EWU from Northern Iowa where he was wide receivers coach in 2017 and 2018. McCann, a 2009 graduate of Western Washington University, spent four previous seasons at EWU’s fellow Big Sky Conference member UC Davis.Â
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Interestingly, McCann faced his former team (UCD) in 2018 while he was coaching UNI – with a twist. A family matter sidelined Panthers offensive coordinator John Bond at the end of the season, and McCann filled in. He debut calling plays came in a 37-0 win over Missouri State, then UNI edged Lamar 16-13 in the first round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.
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However, the Panthers lost 23-16 to the UC Davis Aggies, who would go on to lose to Eastern 34-29 in the quarterfinals. Northern Iowa finished 7-6 in 2018 and were 8-5 in 2017.
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Among the receivers he coached at UNI was first team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selections Daurice Fountain, who was drafted in the fifth round in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Deion McShane in 2018 and Isaiah Weston in 2017 both were named to the MVFC All-Newcomer squad and earned freshman All-America honors.
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While receivers coach at UC Davis, McCann was integral in helping All-Big Sky second team selection Keelan Doss receive sophomore All-America honors from Hero Sports in 2016. McCann was also key in coaching Tom Hemmingsen, Ramon Vargas and Chris Martin to All-Big Sky honorable mention honors during his time with the Aggies.Â
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Prior to his tenure at UC Davis, McCann served as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass. He was also the special teams coordinator from 2011-12 and the wide receivers coach and video coordinator from 2009-2011. He developed all-conference wide receiver John Gomes in 2012 along with helping Gordon McLeod and Zaire Reiph earn all-rookie selections in 2011 and 2012.
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After graduating from Olympia HS in 2003, McCann played football at Western Washington from 2007-2008, earning first team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors as a wide receiver in 2008. As a senior, he caught 58 passes for 1,057 yards and 11 touchdowns, then Western discontinued its football program following the season.
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He graduated from Western Washington with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science with a sport psychology emphasis in 2009 and went on to earn his master's in leadership studies in 2011 from Grand Canyon University.
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He also spent time playing at the College of the Canyons from 2003-05, leading his team to a Junior College National Championship in 2004. Prior to that, he graduated from Olympia (Wash.) High School where he earned first team All-Narrows League honors as a senior when he had 26 catches for 460 yards and nine touchdowns.
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His wife, Andrea, is also from Olympia, and they have two sons, Damian and Paxton. Pat’s brother, Jeff McCann, played football (wide receiver) at Whitworth University.
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