College of the Redwoods to Honor Coach Jim McAuley

Published on Oct 9 2026

College of the Redwoods will honor its first head football coach, Jim McAuley, by naming its football field “McAuley Field at the Community Stadium” and launching a fundraising campaign to support future generations of CR student-athletes. The Board of Trustees approved the naming at its October 6th meeting, with a naming ceremony planned for spring the 2027 semester.

The campaign begins with a $100,000 leadership gift from Dan and Cindy Phillips in McAuley’s honor. Dan, a former CR football player and wrestler, credits McAuley with teaching lessons that shaped his life and career.

“Like so many other athletes, Coach McAuley had a profound impact on me, offering lessons that I have relied on throughout my career,” Phillips said. “Most importantly, he taught us to focus on the fundamentals, maintain a disciplined work ethic, stay cool and calm under adversity, and never compromise our values.”

McAuley built CR’s football program from the ground up in 1967, when the college had no dedicated playing field or facilities. The team initially practiced at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds and played home games at Eureka High School. Community members and business leaders later came together to help fund a stadium on CR’s Eureka campus.

During his ten seasons as head coach, McAuley led the Corsairs to three California state titles and two Northern California championships. He was named California Community College Football Coach of the Year four times. In 1977, he became CR’s athletic director, serving until his retirement in 1991. McAuley died in March 2023 at age 91.

“The new McAuley Field ensures that his legacy and contribution to football and CR athletics will be honored for generations to come,” says CR’s Athletics Director Ryan Bisio. “Future student-athletes will play at the new Community Stadium and the McAuley Field will connect them to our rich history.”

CR’s intercollegiate athletics program includes 16 teams and more than 325 student-athletes, nearly half of whom come from local communities. Contributions to the campaign will support CR Athletics and strengthen opportunities for future student-athletes.

The Phillips family are longtime supporters of CR Athletics. After attending CR, Dan built a career in information technology with companies including TiVo, Hulu and the Chamberlain Group. He also co-founded Lost Coast Ventures with John Ballard to support entrepreneurial activities at College of the Redwoods and Cal Poly Humboldt.

Community members can honor McAuley’s legacy and support CR Athletics by making a donation online or mailing a check to the College of the Redwoods Foundation, 527 D St., Eureka, CA 95501.

For more information about the campaign, contact Marty Coelho, Executive Director of College Advancement & the CR Foundation, at marty-coelho@redwoods.edu or 707-476-4325.