James Fred McKale first moved to Tucson, AZ in 1911 and served as a baseball coach for Tucson High School. Based on his outstanding record, students from the University of Arizona petitioned University President A. H. Wilde to hire McKale as the coach for all athletic teams at the University of Arizona. James F. McKale served as Coach and Director of Athletics at the University of Arizona from 1914 to 1959.
This collection contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, photographs, speeches, athletic records, and personal items, concerning University of Arizona athletics. Teams include basketball, baseball, and football. Also included is material relating to his participation in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the American Association of College Baseball Coaches.