JOHN MACKOVIC

'John Mackovic' is the head coach of the U.S.'s first American Football World Cup team. The former college and professional American football head coach, is preparing the U.S. team to compete in the 3rd American Football World Cup tournament. Previously, Mackovic had served as the head coach in college football for Wake Forest University (1978-1980), the University of Illinois (1988-1991), the University of Texas (1992-1998), and the University of Arizona (2001-2003). Mackovic was the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League from 1983 to 1986.
In between his head coaching stints at Wake Forest and the Kansas City Chiefs, Mackovic was an offensive assistant under Tom Landry with the Dallas Cowboys.
Mackovic missed the playoffs in each of his first 3 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. After a season in which the Chiefs reached the playoffs as a wild card, Mackovic was fired because team owner, Lamar Hunt, recognized the clear lack of chemistry between Mackovic and his players. ^[1] Specifically, the catalyst behind Mackovic's dismissal was a meeting between Hunt and eight of the most prominent Chief players. ^[2]
Mackovic's tenure at Texas included a gutsy call in the Inaugural Big 12 championship game in 1996. His Texas Longhorns (a 21 point underdog to the 2-time defending national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers), were leading the game, 30-27, with about 2 minutes to play, and had the ball fourth and inches at their own 28. Mackovic not only decided to go for the first down, but called for his quarterback, James Brown, to fake a running play and roll out and pass the ball. The play worked for a 50 yard gain and Texas ultimately won the Big 12 championship. Mackovic was fired after a 4-7 season in 1997
Frustrated by an offense that was perceived as too conservative, the University of Arizona hired Mackovic as head coach to replace Dick Tomey. In his disastrous two and a half year tenure, Mackovic never posted winning record while clashing with high school coaches and his own players. In 2002, Mackovic told tight end Justin Levasseur that he was a disgrace to his family. ^[3] Ultimately, forty players (including linebacker Lance Briggs) mutinied by taking their grievances to university president, Peter Likins. ^[4] This meeting prompted the university's board of regents to discuss the state of the football program. ^[5] Ultimately, Mackovic offered a public apology to: his players; the university and fans. ^[6] Five games in his third season, Mackovic was fired and replaced (on an interim basis) by defensive coordinator Mike Hankowitz. ^[7]
Mackovic is known as a lover and collector of wine.
In 2006 Mackovic was named as the head coach of Team USA for the 2007 IFAF World Cup of American Football held at Kawasaki,Japan.
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