By CHRIS MCMANES — DeMatha Catholic High School administrators knew bringing back football coach Bill McGregor was a good move. His fellow coaches in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference agree.

McGregor, who returned as the Stags’ head football coach in January after an eight-year hiatus, was named WCAC co-Coach of the Year. He shares the recognition with Joe Casamento of St. John’s.

The honor is nothing new to McGregor. Since the formation of the WCAC in 1993, the DeMatha Hall of Famer has been named the WCAC’s top football coach 12 times.

The 2019 Stags finished 7-4 and became the first team in DeMatha’s storied football history to record four consecutive shutouts. The Stags struggled in the WCAC, going 2-3 including their first-round loss in the playoffs.

The year didn’t end the way I wanted it to, but I love DeMatha,” said McGregor following his 30th season as head coach. “I’m happy to be back. The WCAC is a great league to coach in. It’s as fine a football conference as there is in the country.”

McGregor has a career record of 285-44-3 (86.3 winning percentage) and has won 17 Catholic league championships. This includes his time in the WCAC forerunner, the Washington Metropolitan Athletic Conference. He has helped more than 350 players attend college on Division I football scholarships.

McGregor was elevated from Stags defensive coordinator in 1982 and proceeded to lead DeMatha to the WMAC title that year and in 1984 and ’86. Under his tutelage, the Stags won the final two WMAC crowns (1991-92) and the first three in the WCAC. From 2003-08, his teams dominated the league with six consecutive titles.

In The Washington Post’s annual football rankings, McGregor-led squads have eight times finished No. 1. His 2019 team is ranked fifth. (The final poll hasn’t been released.) In 1999 and 2009, the Post named DeMatha the “Program of the Decade.”

From 1976-81 as head baseball coach, McGregor guided the Stags to four WMAC championships. Steve Miller, current DeMatha baseball coach, was a senior shortstop on McGregor’s final team. The club was recently inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.

In 2005, the NFL recognized McGregor as High School Coach of the Year. He was nominated by ex-DeMatha and Philadelphia Eagles standout running back Brian Westbrook.

Rodney McLeod, another former Stag, helped lead Philadelphia to the 2017 NFL championship in Super Bowl LII. He played on four straight title-winning teams (2004-07) at DeMatha. Josh Wilson, the Stags’ assistant head coach/defensive coordinator, logged nine years in the NFL.

McGregor loves being back in his office on Madison Street: “I’m very honored to have the opportunity to come back and be the head coach at DeMatha again.”

All-League Stags – Twenty DeMatha football players were named to the All-WCAC Capital Division team. First-team performers included Jordan White, MarShawn Lloyd, Coziah Izzard, Jaishawn Barham, Greg Penn, Anton Booth and Saieed Myers.

Golden Achumba, Dwayne Allick, Josh Dodd, Ethan Gough, Daniel Holbrook, Colin Mobley, Hezekiah Faison and Harold Peters were recognized as second teamers.

Malakai Anthony, Sieh Bangura, MelTeon Davis, Dylan Foster and Kevin Winston were named honorable mention.

Caleb Williams (Gonzaga) was chosen WCAC Offensive Player of the Year. Kris Jenkins and Mitchell Melton of Capital Division champion Good Counsel were named co-Defensive Player of the Year.

St. Mary’s Ryken won its second straight Metro Division title with a 17-14 victory over Archbishop Carroll.

Chris McManes (mick-maynz) just completed his fifth season covering DeMatha football.