Southern Arkansas University Athletics

Sage McLean coached football at SAU from 1923 through 1936, when it was first the Third District Agricultural High School, and later Magnolia A&M Junior College. McLean coached the Muleriders for 14 years, second only to the late Auburn Smith’s 15 years in the 1950s and ‘60’s.  His Muleriders, or Aggies, won 53 games, lost 46, and tied 11, for a .532 winning percentage, which ranks ninth all-time for SAU football coaches. The teams he coached won three Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (AIC) championships.
                
SAU’s most successful years under the direction of McLean were in 1926 with a 6-1-2 record, and a conference title; in 1927 with a 7-2-1 record, and a league championship; and in 1929 when they completed an unbeaten championship season with an 8-0-1 record.  The only blemish was an opening 6-6 deadlock with Ouachita Baptist. In nine games, in an era when defenses prevailed over offenses, the Muleriders pitched five shutouts.
           
McLean’s 1930 Muleriders walloped an Army-Navy Hospital team from Hot Springs 100-0, the most lop-sided win in SAU history.  His 1925 Muleriders waxed Monticello A&M (University of Arkansas-Monticello), 91-0, in the season’s final game. That score remains the largest margin of victory in the history of the series, as well as the most points against former AIC, and present, Gulf South Conference opponents.
           
After stepping down as a coach, McLean served the university as dean of men into the 1950’s before retiring, and returning to his native Caddo Gap, where he and wife, Louise (Sanders), a native of Stephens, both passed away. The McLean’s lost both of their very athletic sons, Mike and Pat, at an early age.