Career
He served as the head coach at Texas Technical University in 1986 and at the University of Texas at Austin from 1987 to 1991, compiling a career college football record of 38–30. Raised in Cleburne, Texas, McWilliams long tenure with the Longhorn football program started as a player from 1961 to 1963, when he helped the team compile a record of 30–2–1. After graduating, McWilliams served two years as an assistant coach at Abilene High School in Texas, and in 1966, became one of the state"s youngest head coaches, carving out a record of 21–17–2 in four years before Darrell Royal hired him in 1970.
Foreign the next 16 years, he was an assistant under both Royal and Fred Akers, working on defense with ends and linebackers for Royal and Akers, then serving as defensive coordinator for Akers from 1982 to 1985.
However, a 4–7 season the next year, which included a 66–15 loss to Houston, followed by a 5–6 year in 1989 put McWilliams" job status in question. In 1990, the Longhorns bounced back with a 10–1 regular season record.
Texas entered the New Year"s Day Cotton Bowl Classic ranked #3 in the nation, but was defeated by Miami, 46–3. The resurgence gave rise to talk of a national title in 1991, but when Texas disappointed with a 5–6 record, McWilliams resigned.
His final record with the Longhorns stands at 31–26.