McPHERSON, DONALD
Don McPherson is a native of West Hempstead, New York, where he was a two sport high school All-American athlete (football, track). He attended Syracuse University, played quarterback and compiled 22 school records between 1983 and 1987. In 1987, he led the NCAA in passing and Syracuse University to an undefeated season. He was a consensus All-America selection and winner of over 18 national player of the year honors including the Maxwell Award (as the nation's top collegiate player), the Davey O'Brien Award, the Johnny Unitas Award (nation's outstanding quarterback), and was runner-up to Tim Brown of Notre Dame in the Heisman Trophy voting.

In 1988, Don was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, of the National Football League. In 1990, he was traded to the Houston Oilers, only to return to Philadelphia following that season. In 1991, he headed north to Canadian Football League, joining the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1991-93) and Ottawa Rough-Riders (1994).

During his seven year career, Don remained active in every community where he played. Specifically, during each off-season, he was Program Coordinator for a community based, non-profit organization called Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA), on Long Island, NY. He coordinated all training and presentations for the Student-Athlete Leadership Program and was coordinator of Nassau County's Athletes Against Drunk Driving program. In 1993 he founded Athletes Helping Athletes, Canada, Inc. and served as the International Chairman for both organizations.

As Program Coordinator of the Student-Athlete Leadership Program, Don has trained thousands of high school student-athletes in motivational speaking and group work dynamics. His training includes mobilizing them within their respective school districts and communities to address self-esteem, substance abuse, violence prevention and academic success issues faced by young people. By using sports as an educational tool, student athletes learn to teach, using their personal experiences as motivating examples for young people. AHA is more than 43 schools on Long Island. AHA has also provided programming and services schools in Queens, New York, Hartford, Connecticut and throughout New Jersey. AHA Canada, based at MacMaster University operates in eight schools in Hamilton, Ontario.

For several years, Don conducted leadership training programs in the Washington Correctional Facility in Comstock, New York. The program was designed to create peer leadership among inmates, and encourage involvement in pro-active programs and positive community involvement. He has worked in several correctional facilities throughout New York State, conducting workshops on a variety of social issues ranging from substance abuse and gender violence prevention.

Upon retiring from professional football in November of 1994, Don McPherson joined Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society. He was named co-director of Sport in Society's new program Athletes in Service to America. The goal of Athletes in Service was to expand Sports in Society's program nationally. In its first year Athletes in Service was established at four colleges (Canisius College, Northeastern University, The University of Kentucky and the University of Nevada at Reno). Funded by an AmeriCorps grant, Athletes in Service was launched in fall of 1995 and now trains former college student athletes to conduct community service programs in their local communities. Corps members are trained in conflict resolution, cultural diversity, gender violence prevention and academic tutoring.

In 1996, Don was named Director of Sport in Society's Mentors in Violence Prevention Program (MVP). A gender violence prevention program, MVP is designed to encourage men to take a proactive position in the effort to stop men's violence against women. Between 1996 and 1999, MVP presentations and programs included:

• More than 80 high schools in New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut
• More than 50 College and Universities nationally
• New England Patriots Football Club
• NBA's Rookie Transition Program
• Integrated component of the NCAA's CHAMPS/Lifeskills program

In 1996, MVP joined with Liz Clairborne, Inc. to create a series of public service announcements targeted to reach the predominately male "sports" audience. The PSA's featured active college football players and aired on local telecasts and in-stadium video screens.

From 1997 through 1999, Don served as national director of MVP and associate director of the National Consortium for Academics and Sport. In addition, in 1998 he returned to Long Island, rejoining AHA as associate director.

In summer of 1999, Don resigned from MVP and the National Consortium for Academics and Sport.

Since re-joining AHA, and under Don's guidance the organization has expanded its programming to include "Civility in Sports"(sportsmanship themes), "school violence," and gender violence prevention issues. AHA is currently housed at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. Don teaches "Leadership Development" and "Sport and Civility" at Adelphi. In 1999, he founded the Sports Leadership Institute. The Institute's mission is to provide training, to individuals and athletics organizations, on leadership and issues relating to sport and youth development. The Institute will also conduct research and provide commentary on sport and social issues.

In spring of 1999, Don joined the board of directors of the Jenna Foundation for Non-Violence. He then created McPherson's Mentors for Jenna, a mentor program aimed at reducing violence, and promoting tolerance and civility Syracuse schools and communities. The Jenna Foundation was created by the parents of Jenna Greishaber, a young women who was murdered in 1997. Her death was the impetus for the restructuring of parole guidelines, now known as "Jenna's Law" in NY State.

Don serves on the board of directors of the Nassau County Sports Commission. In April of 2000, on behalf of the sports commission, Don created the John Mackey Award, to be given to the nation's most outstanding collegiate tight end. As director of the John Mackey Award, Don oversees the nomination and selection of the only tight end award in college football.

Don is a member of several advisory panels and consults with various national and local organizations including:

• National Collegiate Athletic Association
• Women's Sports Foundation
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Family Violence Prevention Fund
• California Coalition Against Sexual Assault
• Higher Education Center
• U S Department of Justice
• U S Department of Education

In 1997, Don testified before the United States Congress on a resolution to create a national summit, to address violence in sport and society.

Don is often quoted in print articles throughout the United States and has been featured on MSNBC, Fox News and Court TV and has contributed commentary on WNBC's "Today in New York." He has appeared on the Phil Donahue Show and ABC's "Nightline" to discuss "athletes and domestic violence" and racism in professional football respectively.

From 1996 to 1998, Don co-hosted "Sports Sunday" on WBZ radio in Boston. In 1999, Don joined ESPN as an analyst, covering college football.

Most recently Don was the Walter Camp Alumnus of the Year

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