McGonagle's Culture-Driven Approach Is Leading Endicott Football To Historic Heights

Written by Shawn Medeiros
- Endicott Sports Information Director

BEVERLY, Mass. — Taped to the door of Endicott football head coach Paul McGonagle's office is a small sign that features the following quote: 

"If you are not prepared to put the team first, TURN AROUND"

It may seem like a simple message on the surface area of his door, but this team-first mentality has initiated an about-face in relation to the program's success since McGonagle's arrival in 2018.

So far during his five-year career at the oceanfront campus, McGonagle and his Gulls have compiled a 34-9 overall record (.791), a 22-3 mark in league play (.880), and earned the program's first-ever national ranking — which occurred earlier this fall.

That dominant span includes two Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships (2021, 2022), a New England Bowl Title (2019), and a soon-to-be fourth postseason appearance when Endicott hosts Springfield this Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Prior to his arrival, the football program drudged through four straight seasons of .500 or worse ball.

"I came across that particular quote a few years ago and it's stuck with me ever since. It's something every student-athlete or coach who is coming into my office understands, that we always put the TEAM first," said McGonagle. "We all have things going on but we want to make sure we check our ego at the door and that we are all working together for each other."

McGonagle credits that team-first mentality for setting the program's foundation in his first two seasons (16-6 overall, 11-2 league).

The last few, which have thrust Endicott into the national conversation, well, that comes down to one thing: Culture Building

During the offseason two years ago, McGonagle and his staff made the decision to hyper-focus their efforts on team culture after many discussions about growth and development.

Those conversations eventually yielded the following plan:

• Weekly team meetings highlighting examples of successful cultures
• Teaching life lessons with no ties to football
• Developing their team captains further through individual meetings
• Creation of a leadership council in which each student-athlete has to apply
• Small group discussions and competitions with 10-12 student-athletes facilitated by coaches and two team captains

The results speak for themselves since then.

On the field, the Gulls have captured two conference titles and produced the first undefeated regular season in program history this fall (10-0, 6-0 CCC). 

It also marks the first undefeated regular season in the CCC era (2017-present).

As for the classroom, 67 student-athletes have received CCC Academic All-Conference honors, including a league-best and program record 41 honorees in 2021.

McGonagle's squads have compiled 119 honors since 2018 for an average of 30 award winners each season.

"I truly feel our emphasis on culture building has been the catalyst to our success the last two years," stated McGonagle, strongly. "Culture isn't something you can do from time to time, it is something you have to do daily. Our student-athletes have embraced every facet of the team's culture and continue to exemplify it on and off the field."

Endicott College Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Brian A. Wylie agreed with McGonagle's assessment of the Gulls' culture.

"What Coach Paul McGonagle has done, is totally change a culture that now imbues accountability, hard work, persistence, and ultimately each student-athlete pushing each other to reach their highest potential. This program has some phenomenal leaders that lead by example, but it's the entire team that prioritizes the importance of academics, and social responsibilities in a way that yields the results you're seeing on the field now," said Wylie. 

"There is a huge sense of belonging with this team. When Paul came in, he built a roster up from a number in the low 80s to now more than 140. That is really hard to do. He's built an environment that students want to be a part of and experience the team cohesion and work they put in every day. All that starts at the top with Coach McGonagle and the rest of his coaching staff."

Senior defensive back Tyler Davis (Bethel, Conn.), who wears the No. 0 as a physical example of how an Endicott football student-athlete should lead on and off the field, can speak better than anyone on the year-to-year change in culture within the program.

After all, Davis is the one remaining student-athlete on the Gulls' roster from his recruiting class (partially in part to COVID).

"For me, personally, I've grown a lot over the course of my career at Endicott, both as a football player and in my life off the field," said Davis. "A large part of that growth can be attributed to having 120-plus other guys pushing you every single day to be better on the field, in the classroom, in the weight room, or in whatever you are trying to accomplish."

"I think it speaks for itself how unique and special our culture is when you look at the number of guys who go from being a scout player one season and then stepping up and being an All-Conference player the year after. Everyone understands you have to earn everything and nothing is guaranteed, which is something I don't think a lot of other teams can say."

McGonagle, a three-time CCC Coach of the Year award winner, is no stranger to re-energizing programs, having accomplished just that in his previous stop at NCAA Division II Assumption.

During his time in Worcester, Mass. (2013-17), McGonagle helped transform the Greyhounds from a 3-7 squad in 2012 to an NCAA Tournament Quarterfinalist at the end of his tenure as associate head coach.

Assumption's highlights from 2013-17 include a 44-16 record, the program's first-ever NE10 title, two conference championships in total, and three NCAA Tournament appearances.

McGonagle was named the 2016 Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Division II Assistant Coach of the Year for his efforts during the historic run of success for the Greyhounds.

The former University of Kentucky offensive lineman/tight end has won conference championships at Bentley University (NCAA Division II) and Stony Brook University (NCAA Division I FCS).

He also has coached three National Football League (NFL) players and one of the nation's top offenses at both the NCAA Division II (Bentley) and NCAA Division III (Fitchburg State) levels.

All of those experiences have positioned Coach McGonagle to lead Endicott's relatively young football program to historic heights, athletically and academically.

"We are extremely proud of the historic success of Endicott's football program," said President Steven R. DiSalvo, Ph.D. "Beyond the record, the most impressive and important aspect of the program is the culture Coach McGonagle and his staff have developed to ensure our student-athletes are just as successful off the field." 

However, the football program's success under McGonagle has not come without the support and hard work put in by many involved with the team throughout the past and present.

"What some people don't know, is that Endicott has only had football for a short time. In those 19 years, we've only had four losing seasons. We've been very fortunate," said Wylie. "Over those years, the College has provided all of athletics with tremendous support and investment needed to be successful. This has really enabled the regional and national growth in not just football, but in athletics across the board, and has mirrored the incredible evolution of the College over many years."

Wylie knows McGonagle's personal character has just as much to do with the success of the program during his tenure as any other variables previously mentioned.

"I've known Paul for a while. The respect I have for him as a coach is one thing, but who he is as a person, and how he's raised three bright, beautiful, and extremely talented young women, is what is most impressive than what we get to see from Paul as our head football coach," said Wylie. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - David Le '10)