McCarney protege Partridge bringing Owls to Apogee

[Harry]

Most coaches have more than a few mentors who helped them move along in their careers, whether it was through advice or a chance to move to a higher-level job.

Dan McCarney’s mentors included Hayden Fry and Barry Alvarez, a pair of college football legends who helped North Texas’ coach get to the other side of the equation and mentor a few young coaches, including Florida Atlantic coach Charlie Partridge.

Partridge started out working McCarney’s football camps and eventually became a part of Iowa State’s staff.

Several years and a few jobs later, McCarney and Partridge will face off for the first time as head coaches Saturday night when Partridge brings his Owls to Apogee Stadium to face the Mean Green.

“Coach McCarney gave me my first big shot at Iowa State,” Partridge said this summer at Conference USA media day. “It’s surreal. I was just cutting my teeth at the Division I level when I worked for Dan.”

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