Editing Mike McCarthy (section)

===College===
In 1987, Duane Dirk, the defensive coordinator at [[Fort Hays State University]] in Kansas, hired McCarthy as a defensive [[graduate assistant]] (GA). Over the next two years, McCarthy focused on linebackers and defensive ends.<ref>{{Cite book |date=1998 |title=Arnsparger's Coaching Defensive Football |pages=339–392 |publisher=CRC Press |doi=10.4324/9780367804268 |isbn=978-0-367-80426-8 |chapter=Overtime My Coaching Career |doi-broken-date=November 2, 2024 }}</ref> During his time as the defensive graduate assistant, McCarthy pursued a master of science degree; he graduated with a M.S. in Sports Administration in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |title=McCarthy Feature |url=https://www.goforthaysstate.com/s/947/index.aspx?pgid=1505 |access-date=June 22, 2021 |website=www.goforthaysstate.com}}</ref>

After serving as a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State from 1987 to 1988, McCarthy returned home to Pittsburgh. On July 30, 1989, McCarthy contacted [[Mike Gottfried]], the head coach at the [[University of Pittsburgh]], looking for a coaching job, but no positions were available. McCarthy was told to mail his resume. McCarthy later showed up at Gottfried's office without an appointment to introduce himself. Two days later, one of Gottfried's assistants resigned, and McCarthy was offered a volunteer coach position without pay.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Gehlken |first=Michael |date=January 19, 2020 |title=Who is Mike McCarthy? In Green Bay, he's known as more than just a Super Bowl-winning football coach |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2020/01/19/mike-mccarthys-way/ |access-date=June 24, 2021 |work=Dallas News}}</ref> McCarthy later worked under coach [[Paul Hackett (American football)|Paul Hackett]].<ref name=":2" />

McCarthy served as a graduate assistant for three seasons before coaching wide receivers during the 1992 season. Initially, he also worked the night shift on the [[Pennsylvania Turnpike]] as a toll collector during the off-season to supplement his income.<ref name="Peter King Super Bowl XLV" /> McCarthy stated that he spent his time in the tollbooth reviewing the University of Pittsburgh playbook.<ref name=":0" />