Bill McCartney (August 22, 1940 – January 10, 2025) was a distinguished American football coach and Christian leader, best known for guiding the University of Colorado Buffaloes to their sole national championship in 1990 and for founding the influential men’s ministry, Promise Keepers.​ Protestia+7Charisma Magazine Online+7Charisma Magazine Online+7 Early Life and Coaching Career Born in Riverview, Michigan, McCartney played college football at the University of Missouri before embarking on a coaching career. He began at the high school level in Michigan and, in 1974, was hired by Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan, becoming the only high school coach Schembechler ever hired. McCartney served as Michigan’s defensive coordinator from 1977 to 1981.​