1977 Profile: John McVay

HEAD COACH
"That's McVay, not McKay. He joined the Giants last year, innocently enough, as a research and development coach. He had just about figured what his job was when Bill Arnsparger was fired, and he was named head coach. Not only that, he was given a two-year contract after the season. Now what do I do?
Now 46, McVay is another graduate of the Cradle of Coaches, Miami of Ohio, where he played under Woody Hayes and Ara Parseghian. He later was head coach at Dayton University and for the Memphis Southmen (remember them?) of the World Football League. If he can produce a winning season in two years, he's a miracle worker."

-Dave Newhouse, The Complete Handbook of Pro Football, 1977 Edition

"John McVay was named head coach of the Giants on October 25, 1976, replacing Bill Arnsparger at the halfway point of last season after the Giants had gone winless in seven games. He was subsequently given a two-year contract as head coach at the conclusion of the season after leading the club to a 3-4 mark after the final seven games. Three of those four losses could have easily gone the other way- 9-3 to Dallas, 14-13 to Denver and 17-14 to St. Louis. The 46-year-old McVay had joined the Giants on April 1, 1976 as an assistant coach in charge of research and development after being head coach of the Memphis team in the World Football League in 1974-75.
Born on January 5, 1931 in Bellaire, Ohio, McVay played high school football at the famed Massillon High School in Ohio, then was a center at Miami of Ohio for three seasons under both Woody Hayes and Ara Parseghian, winning All-Midwest honors for two seasons as well as team MVP honors both years and was team captain in his senior season.'
McVay began his coaching career at Central Catholic High School in Canton, Ohio, compiling a 41-7-2 record there in nine seasons, developing such players as Alan Page, now with the Vikings. He moved on to Michigan State as an assistant coach under Duffy Daugherty for three years, and then was named head coach at Dayton University. In 1966 McVay led the Flyers to an 8-2 record, their first winning season in 10 years. He was head coach there for five seasons, then became Athletic Director in 1972, a position he held until he was named head coach at Memphis in 1974.
That year, Memphis won 17 regular season games and led the WFL in virtually every offensive category. McVay's next stop was the Giants, and 1976 was a big year for him in every respect. He was elected to the Miami of Ohio Fall of Fame in January of this year."

-1977 New York Giants Media Guide