Former UCLA Football Defensive Coordinator Bill McGovern Dies at 60
Bill McGovern, who served as UCLA football's defensive coordinator in 2022, has died at the age of 60, the team announced Tuesday.
The veteran coach had been part of nearly a dozen college and NFL staffs over the last 38 years, but his final stop was in Westwood. McGovern missed the final five games of last fall's regular season due to health issues, which turned out to be related to his battle with cancer.
Although McGovern returned to coach at the Sun Bowl in late December, the program hired D'Anton Lynn to replace him as defensive coordinator on Feb. 27. McGovern was retained on the staff, though, and he was named director of football administration that same day.
McGovern died Tuesday morning at his California home while surrounded by family.
“Early this morning we said goodbye to our beloved father and husband Bill after his long and difficult battle with cancer came to an end and today, we would like to thank the entire UCLA community for all of the love and support you gave to Bill and our entire family during this very difficult struggle," the McGovern family wrote in a statement. "In particular, the McGovern family would like to thank UCLA head football coach Chip Kelly and his wife Jill as well as all of the players, coaches, trainers, and support staff of the UCLA football program and their families. It was the honor of Bill’s coaching career to be the defensive coordinator for the UCLA Bruins and this past season was one of the highlights of Bill’s coaching career. We are so thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such a historic athletic tradition and, more importantly, we could not have made it through this past year without the love and prayers of our UCLA family. The McGovern family is so grateful and thankful to all of you for your help during this difficult time and we will be indebted to you all forever. Thank you so much and we will cherish the wonderful memories we have of UCLA and our UCLA football family for the rest of our lives.”
On May 21, Kelly and offensive line coach Tim Drevno attended the Tour de Pier – a stationary biking fundraiser in Manhattan Beach – wearing "Biking For Billy" shirts. McGovern died nine days later.
McGovern got his start as a defensive back at Holy Cross, where he earned Division I-AA All-American honors as a senior in 1984. From there, McGovern rolled right into coaching, picking up assistant positions at UPenn, Holy Cross and UMass over the next few years.
After one season as defensive coordinator at UMass, McGovern spent some time at Boston College and Pittsburgh. McGovern returned to Boston College and took over as the Eagles' defensive coordinator in 2009, coaching star linebackers such as Mark Herzlich and Luke Kuechly during his time in Chestnut Hill.
McGovern followed Kelly to the NFL in 2013, serving as the Philadelphia Eagles' outside linebackers coach for three seasons. McGovern then went to the New York Giants, where he worked as the linebackers coach for four seasons.
Following brief stops with Nebraska and the Chicago Bears, McGovern arrived in Westwood, reuniting with Kelly.
The Bruins went 9-4 in 2022, including a 6-1 start prior to McGovern's absence.
McGovern is survived by his wife, Colleen, and daughters Amanda, Delainey and Mackenzie.
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