Miami Ohio University Athletics
Celebrating 150 Years of College Football: Deland McCullough
4/15/2019 7:41:00 AM | Football
The 2019 football season is the 150th anniversary of college football. Here at MiamiRedHawks.com, we will honor some of the all-time greats to play for Miami University as well as those that have made an impact on the field since their graduation. We caught up with Deland McCullough to hear about the memories he made while wearing the Red and White.
I know it's a bit of a broad question, but how would you explain your time at Miami?
DM: I would explain my time at Miami as one of growth and opportunity. As a pretty quiet, guarded person, Miami provided me endless chances to grow and opportunities to become the best version of myself. Specifically, my teammates, coaches, support staff, professors and the community provided me with support and growth opportunities. So my time at Miami encompassed successes and failures on and off the field that fueled my desire to be a better overall person.
How did Miami help you to prepare for life outside of football?
DM: Again, my teammates, coaches, support staff, professors and the community reinforced being more than just a football player. Football was something I liked to do, but didn't totally define me. Because Miami prepares you for life success, I was constantly reminded and asked of plans that went past a career in football.Â
What was your favorite moment on the playing field at Miami and why?
DM: My favorite on the field moment at Miami was the Cincinnati game in 1992. It was my first game I played at Miami. Considering my journey from having my position changed in fall 1991, my (dad) position coach leaving in winter of 1991, and having to overcome established competition at the position was a moment of pride for me. Also, most importantly, we beat UC!!!
What advice would you give a student-athlete at Miami to help them achieve their goals?
DM: My advice would be "keep the main thing the main thing". Meaning, sports may have been the vehicle that brought you and Miami together, but the main thing that ultimately consummates that relationship is achieving that degree. Also, use the fabulous resources available to assist you. Miami is designed to provide us an on and off field platform to meet our goals. Use the resources.
Did you have a favorite teammate in your time at Miami? What made him special?
DM: Wouldn't be fair to name one teammate because I had connections with several of my teammates. What made them all special was that we accepted each other for who we were and when it was time to work - we pushed each other to be great and held each other accountable. That accountability applied to off the field activity too.
What was your favorite place to eat in Oxford?
DM: I liked Skippers the most.
Funniest moment in your time at Miami?
DM: Again, I had a full experience at Miami and really can't think of one funny moment that stood out. However, I had tons of funny experiences. Believe that!
Was there someone, maybe a professor or advisor that had a major impact on your time at Miami?
DM: Well, initially it was my position coach (dad) Sherman Smith – that's what drew me to Miami. After that, a major impact was made by Darcy Shriver in academics, my running back coach my last three years Ron Johnson, my strength coach Dan Dalrymple, and in the community, Jared and Lisa Sizemore. And without a doubt, my head coach Randy Walker!!!
Tell us about your life now. What are you doing? Any major accomplishments we should be aware of?
DM: After graduating in 1996 as the all-time leading rusher for the RedHawks and the Mid-American Conference, I went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons (1996-97), before joining the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers for two seasons (1998-99) and the XFL's Chicago Enforcers for one season (2001). I was inducted into Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
I then went into education where I served as a High School Head Football Coach/Teacher (2001-2004), Athletic Director (2002-2009), then Principal (2004-2010). I earned a Masters of Education in Instructional design at American Intercontinental University and still hold Principals Certification in Educational Leadership.
I then joined the Miami football staff in 2010 as a quality control coach. Miami won the Mid American Championship that season. After that season, I was promoted to RB coach. Immediately following that I took the RB coach job at Indiana University where I coached for six seasons.
In 2017 I accepted the running back job at University of Southern California. I am now the RB coach with the Kansas City Chiefs.
I got married in 2000 and have four sons. My oldest son Deland II is a freshman student athlete at Miami on the football team.
What makes Miami so special?
DM: What makes Miami so special is the high standards - on the playing field, in the classroom and in society as a whole. Miami challenges you to become a better person by surrounding you with like-minded, goal oriented people - albeit from different backgrounds, and presents and exclusive opportunity to change your life and impact the world. All this while creating relationships that last a lifetime.
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I know it's a bit of a broad question, but how would you explain your time at Miami?
DM: I would explain my time at Miami as one of growth and opportunity. As a pretty quiet, guarded person, Miami provided me endless chances to grow and opportunities to become the best version of myself. Specifically, my teammates, coaches, support staff, professors and the community provided me with support and growth opportunities. So my time at Miami encompassed successes and failures on and off the field that fueled my desire to be a better overall person.
How did Miami help you to prepare for life outside of football?
DM: Again, my teammates, coaches, support staff, professors and the community reinforced being more than just a football player. Football was something I liked to do, but didn't totally define me. Because Miami prepares you for life success, I was constantly reminded and asked of plans that went past a career in football.Â
What was your favorite moment on the playing field at Miami and why?
DM: My favorite on the field moment at Miami was the Cincinnati game in 1992. It was my first game I played at Miami. Considering my journey from having my position changed in fall 1991, my (dad) position coach leaving in winter of 1991, and having to overcome established competition at the position was a moment of pride for me. Also, most importantly, we beat UC!!!
What advice would you give a student-athlete at Miami to help them achieve their goals?
DM: My advice would be "keep the main thing the main thing". Meaning, sports may have been the vehicle that brought you and Miami together, but the main thing that ultimately consummates that relationship is achieving that degree. Also, use the fabulous resources available to assist you. Miami is designed to provide us an on and off field platform to meet our goals. Use the resources.
Did you have a favorite teammate in your time at Miami? What made him special?
DM: Wouldn't be fair to name one teammate because I had connections with several of my teammates. What made them all special was that we accepted each other for who we were and when it was time to work - we pushed each other to be great and held each other accountable. That accountability applied to off the field activity too.
What was your favorite place to eat in Oxford?
DM: I liked Skippers the most.
Funniest moment in your time at Miami?
DM: Again, I had a full experience at Miami and really can't think of one funny moment that stood out. However, I had tons of funny experiences. Believe that!
Was there someone, maybe a professor or advisor that had a major impact on your time at Miami?
DM: Well, initially it was my position coach (dad) Sherman Smith – that's what drew me to Miami. After that, a major impact was made by Darcy Shriver in academics, my running back coach my last three years Ron Johnson, my strength coach Dan Dalrymple, and in the community, Jared and Lisa Sizemore. And without a doubt, my head coach Randy Walker!!!
Tell us about your life now. What are you doing? Any major accomplishments we should be aware of?
DM: After graduating in 1996 as the all-time leading rusher for the RedHawks and the Mid-American Conference, I went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals and Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons (1996-97), before joining the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers for two seasons (1998-99) and the XFL's Chicago Enforcers for one season (2001). I was inducted into Miami Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
I then went into education where I served as a High School Head Football Coach/Teacher (2001-2004), Athletic Director (2002-2009), then Principal (2004-2010). I earned a Masters of Education in Instructional design at American Intercontinental University and still hold Principals Certification in Educational Leadership.
I then joined the Miami football staff in 2010 as a quality control coach. Miami won the Mid American Championship that season. After that season, I was promoted to RB coach. Immediately following that I took the RB coach job at Indiana University where I coached for six seasons.
In 2017 I accepted the running back job at University of Southern California. I am now the RB coach with the Kansas City Chiefs.
I got married in 2000 and have four sons. My oldest son Deland II is a freshman student athlete at Miami on the football team.
What makes Miami so special?
DM: What makes Miami so special is the high standards - on the playing field, in the classroom and in society as a whole. Miami challenges you to become a better person by surrounding you with like-minded, goal oriented people - albeit from different backgrounds, and presents and exclusive opportunity to change your life and impact the world. All this while creating relationships that last a lifetime.
Â
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