WATCH: A tribute to Coach McPhee

BOSTON -- Neil McPhee's 723 career wins as head coach of the Northeastern baseball team are the most of any coach, in any sport, in Northeastern history. However, McPhee was a Northeastern legend before his collegiate coaching career started in 1984. The Waltham, Massachusetts, native was a two-sport athlete for the Huskies, playing both hockey and baseball.
 
Fifty years ago the shortstop led Northeastern to its first-ever NCAA playoff appearance. McPhee's team-leading .333 batting average and four home runs guided the Huskies to a postseason doubleheader against Maine at Fenway Park, where NU dropped both contests. In all, McPhee posted a 38-18 record during his baseball playing career for the Huskies.
 
"He was the starting second baseman for the Huskies in an era when college baseball was a big deal in Boston," said associate athletic director, emeritus Jack Grinold. "McPhee became an instant celebrity and was a flawless fielder."
 
McPhee was named captain of the 1964-65 Northeastern hockey team during his senior year, but a preseason arm injury kept him off the ice for the entire season. In two seasons on the ice for the Huskies, McPhee amassed 35 goals and 36 assists for 71 points in 50 games. The arm injury, however, had little lingering affect on his baseball career. McPhee was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the 1965 First-Year Player MLB draft. He played three years of professional baseball and was a Midwest League All-Star in 1966, when he was the league-leader in RBI while playing for the Wisconsin Rapids. 
 
Shortly after his playing days, McPhee returned to the northeast to begin his coaching career at the high school level. He was inducted into the Northeastern Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1980, but his NU legend was just beginning. McPhee was named the Northeastern baseball head coach in 1986, and the former standout student athlete began his career as a standout coach.
 
"It's inspiring to see somebody give that much of themselves to a program," said senior pitcher Chris Carmain. "He's always been that constant within the program."
 
As a head coach, McPhee led the Huskies to three NCAA postseason appearances. Northeastern competed in two Mideast Regional games in 1994, and the Huskies played two West Regional contests in 1997. In 2003, The Huskies traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for two Louisiana State Regional games. Northeastern claimed America East Tournament titles in each of those three seasons, including a perfect 4-0 Tournament mark in 1997.
 
"Way back when he started, and to look at where the program is now, so many things have improved," said head coach Mike Glavine. "With his help and the administration's help, the program has put itself at a different level."
 
Twenty-four of McPhee's former student-athletes have been drafted by MLB teams, while both Adam Ottavino and Carlos Pena were selected in the first round. Four of McPhee's former student-athletes have reached the Big Leagues: Ottavino (currently with the Colorado Rockies), Pena, Luke Carlin, and Northeastern's next head coach, Glavine.
 
"He got me to where I am today: a fifth-year senior about to get a criminal justice career from one of the best schools in the country," said senior outfielder Sean Lyons. "Being able to compete at the Division I level for five years isn't something a lot of people get to do."
 
In all, McPhee coached 1,379 games for the Huskies, totaling a 723-652-4 career record.
 
"If there's one thing I can say about Coach McPhee it's that he is a genuine person at heart," Carmain said. "It takes a while to crack that tough shell, but when you did it's amazing what you can find."