Heidelberg University Athletics

In the summer of 1970, Gary McKillip arrived at Heidelberg College for preseason football camp. A freshman from Gahanna-Lincoln High School, no one envisioned that the 5'10", 190 Ib., linebacker would be a four-year starter and help lead the Student Princes to victory in the 1972 Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

The 1970 version of the Heidelberg football team finished just 3-6, but McKillip and the rest of the Student Prince defense allowed a glimpse of future things to come. Gary recorded his first collegiate interception and as a team Heidelberg picked off 13 passes. McKillip led the Student Princes with two interceptions, one which he returned for a touchdown, in 1971, and the defense gave. up more than two touchdowns in a game just once as Heidelberg reversed its record to 6-3.

The 1972 football season is one that will be long remembered at Heidelberg College. The Student Princes finished the regular season 9-0, defeated Muskingum, 24-0, in the OAC Championship Game, and topped it off with a 28-16 win over Fort Valley State (Ga.) in the Stagg Bowl. Led by McKillip's 164 tackles, the 'Berg defensive unit gave up just 9.8 points per game and ranked first in the OAC in yardage allowed per game.

Following the season, Head Coach Pete Riesen said of McKillip, "He's Mr. Defensive as far as I'm concerned." Fittingly enough, Gary had his best game in the Stagg Bowl, when he came up with 16 solo tackles and an interception late in the game that stopped a Fort Valley drive.

After being named first team All-OAC in 1972, Gary repeated the feat his senior year for the 6-3 Student Princes.

Football was not McKillip's only sport, however. Gary earned letters in track as a freshman, sophomore and junior as a shot-putter.

Upon his graduation in 1974, McKillip took a position with the River Valley Local School where he taught math and was an assistant varsity football and track coach. In 1978 Gary returned to his high school alma mater, Gahanna-Lincoln, and is currently in his eleventh year there as an assistant football coach and math teacher. Gary and his wife, Terri, have two daughters, Katie and Kelly, and a son, Nathan.

Gary was joined by his father, Donald, in the hall of fame in 1991. 

(This profile appeared in the 1989 Hall of Fame Banquet program.)