CLINTON, Miss. (AP) – Services were Friday for Hartwell McPhail,who spent 12 seasons as Mississippi College’s head football coachand athletic director and 14 years as chairman of the school’shealth and physical education department.

McPhail, 83, died Wednesday at Hospice Ministries. Funeralservices were held at First Baptist Church in Clinton with burialin the Clinton Cemetery.

McPhail, a native of Lincoln County, began his coaching careerat the high school level, including stints at Brookhaven,Greenville and Greenwood.

McPhail won the Big 8 football championship in 1957 and 1958. Hewas Big 8 Coach of the Year in 1957.

McPhail joined the staff at Mississippi College in 1959 asathletic director and football coach. He was head coach of theChoctaws from 1959 to 1971 and had a career record of 59-50-5.

His best season was in 1961 when he had an 8-1 record and hadfour consecutive shutouts to open the year. His only loss was toJacksonville (Ala.) State.

He carried his 1963 Choctaw team to Mexico City to play theUniversity of Mexico, only to have the game canceled two hoursprior to kickoff due to the assassination of President JohnKennedy.

McPhail became friends of Bobby Bowden, now coach at FloridaState University, while Bowden was coaching at Howard College, nowSamford University, in Birmingham, Ala. Last year, Bowden came toClinton to participate in the school’s tribute to McPhail.

McPhail retired from coaching in 1971. He stayed on atMississippi College until 1985 as professor and chairman of theDepartment of Health and Physical Education and Recreation.

The World War II veteran received a bachelor of arts degree fromMississippi College in 1941 and earned a masters degree from theUniversity of Alabama. He got a doctoral degree in education fromthe University of Southern Mississippi in 1976.

Survivors include his wife, Annie Ruth Saxton McPhail; a son;two grandchildren; two sisters; and a brother.