William Jewell College Athletics

Stan McGarvey, a 1973 graduate of William Jewell College, laid the groundwork for an outstanding run of success for Cardinal Football in the early 1980’s. A native of Jerseyville, Illinois, he played one year of football for William Jewell Hall of Famer Norris Patterson before joining the Marines and spending two years in the Vietnam War. He returned in the fall of 1970 to play his final three years for the Cardinals. 

McGarvey became the head coach of the Cardinal football program in the fall of 1978. After a 4-6 first year, Jewell finished an outstanding 9-2 in 1979 which included a HAAC Co-Championship and an appearance in the Moila Bowl. The 1980 squad did even better, finishing 11-1-1.  The Cards won the HAAC Championship and reached the semifinal round of the NAIA-II National Playoffs where they sustained their only loss of the year. He McGarvey received three Coach of the Year Awards in 1980 from the Heart of America Athletic Conference, the NAIA District 16 and the ultimate honor, the NAIA-II National Coach of the Year. His 1980 and 1981 teams have also been inducted in to the Athletic Hall of Fame. 

He left Jewell to join the staff as an assistant at the University of Cincinnati followed by moves to Austin College, Texas (Head Coach), Sam Houston State (Texas – assistant), Montreal (pro assistant with the Concordes and Alouettes) before returning to Jewell for another three year stint (1987-89). He became the head coach at Missouri Western State in 1991 (six years) followed by a move to NCAA II West Texas A&M (five years). Since 2001, he has coached at the high school level in both Missouri and Texas.

McGarvey began his coaching career as an assistant at Pattonville High School (MO). He was a graduate assistant coach at the University of Illinois before joining the staff at the University of Kentucky and then the University of Tulsa.