Pat McCann will return to his home state to coach wide receivers for the Eastern Washington University football program, head coach Aaron Best has announced. He will also serve as EWU's new recruiting coordinator as well.
 
Formerly from Olympia, Wash., McCann comes to EWU from Northern Iowa where he was wide receivers coach in 2017 and 2018. McCann, a 2009 graduate of Western Washington University, spent four previous seasons at EWU's fellow Big Sky Conference member UC Davis. 
 
"My family and I could not be any more excited to be joining Coach Best and the Eastern Washington program," said McCann. "This was the right move at the right time for us as a family, and I look forward to working to continuing to advance the standard of EWU Football. Eastern is the 'Wide Receiver U" of FCS Football, and I'm excited about the challenge of upholding that tradition."
 
"Pat is someone I have watched from afar for some time now," said Best. "His work speaks for itself and we are fortunate to be able to bring Pat aboard. He has done a tremendous job coaching receivers, has coached on both coasts and has some play-calling experience as well. His experience in the Big Sky Conference will only enhance our ability to advance the standard."
 
Interestingly, McCann faced his former team in 2018 while he was coaching UNI – with a twist. A family matter sidelined Panthers offensive coordinator John Bond at the end of the season, and McCann filled in. He debut calling plays came in a 37-0 win over Missouri State, then UNI edged Lamar 16-13 in the first round of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.
 
However, the Panthers lost 23-16 to the UC Davis Aggies, who would go on to lose to Eastern 34-29 in the quarterfinals. Northern Iowa finished 7-6 in 2018 and were 8-5 in 2017.
 
Among the receivers he coached at UNI was first team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selections Daurice Fountain, who was drafted in the fifth round in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. Deion McShane in 2018 and Isaiah Weston in 2017 both were named to the MVFC All-Newcomer squad and earned freshman All-America honors.
 
While receiver coach at UC Davis, McCann was integral in helping All-Big Sky second team selection Keelan Doss receive sophomore All-America honors from Hero Sports in 2016. McCann was also key in coaching Tom Hemmingsen, Ramon Vargas and Chris Martin to All-Big Sky honorable mention honors during his time with the Aggies. 
 
Prior to his tenure at UC Davis, McCann served as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass. He was also the special teams coordinator from 2011-12 and the wide receivers coach and video coordinator from 2009-2011. He developed all-conference wide receiver John Gomes in 2012 along with helping Gordon McLeod and Zaire Reiph earn all-rookie selections in 2011 and 2012.
 
McCann played football at Western Washington from 2007-2008, earning first team All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors as a wide receiver in 2008. As a senior, he caught 58 passes for 1,057 yards and 11 touchdowns, then Western discontinued its football program following the season.
 
"Having many connections and being from Washington, we felt Pat is a great fit to excel in the recruiting coordinator role as well," added Best. "We welcome Pat with open arms to the Eagle family."
 
He graduated from Western Washington with a bachelor's degree in exercise and sport science with a sport psychology emphasis in 2009 and went on to earn his master's in leadership studies in 2011 from Grand Canyon University.
 
He also spent time playing at the College of the Canyons from 2003-05, leading his team to a Junior College National Championship in 2004. Prior to that, he graduated from Olympia (Wash.) High School where he earned first team All-Narrows League honors as a senior when he had 26 catches for 460 yards and nine touchdowns.
 
His wife, Andrea, is also from Olympia, and they have two sons, Damian and Paxton. Pat's brother, Jeff McCann, played football (wide receiver) at Whitworth University.