BERKELEY – Former California rugby standout and U.S. international powerhouse Mike MacDonald was elected to the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its 2024 class, announced Wednesday. The Golden Bear great played for Cal rugby from 1999-2004 and returned as an assistant coach for the program from 2013-21.
 
"This is such an honor, I'm very proud to be inducted into the Cal Hall of Fame," MacDonald said. "There are only 347 individual inductees in the Hall of Fame, so to be put into a group with that kind of scope is very special. I can attribute a lot of my success to Coach Clark and Coach Billups. They helped mold me as a player from an early age, when I only had a few years of rugby under my belt, and they gave me such a good foundation to go on and have a successful career. There's so many more people to name in the list of people to thank. First, of course, are my parents for their unwavering support from high school, to college, all the way to my professional and international achievements. I would like to thank Ned Anderson who was my high school coach, my siblings, friends, teammates and the Cal community. The Cal community is overwhelmingly supportive to all of their student athletes. I want to thank everyone who not only supports the rugby team, but also those who support any student-athletes – it goes a long way."
 
MacDonald, a Bay Area native, racked up accolades during his time in Berkeley as a starting prop for the Bears. He earned All-America recognition every year of his collegiate career, and led Cal to four national championship titles in 2000, '01, '02 and '04. MacDonald helped Cal to its undefeated season in 2002 when the Bears posted a 21-0 record, and he was named the tournament MVP in his final national championship match in 2004.
 
Whilst donning the Blue & Gold, MacDonald also got the call to wear the Red, White and Blue for Team USA at the international level. He earned his first cap the summer after his rookie year at Cal in Team USA's match versus Fiji in Apia, Samoa on June 30, 2000.
 
MacDonald went on to be one of the most decorated American rugby players in history. He represented the U.S. in three consecutive Rugby World Cups in 2003, '07 and '11. At the 2011 Rugby World Cup, he broke two notable records among American rugby players, earning his 63rd cap to become the then-most capped Eagle in history and making his 11th appearance in a Rugby World Cup, which was the most of any U.S. player. MacDonald was twice named Man of the Match at a Rugby World Cup contest, first in Team USA's 2007 matchup with Tonga and in 2011 after the Eagles' match against Russia.
 
In addition to representing his country in international competition, MacDonald had a career playing professional rugby with the Worcester Warriors in England from 2005-07 before spending six years with Leeds Carnegie in the England Premiership from 2007-12. There, he was voted both Player of the Year and Supporter's Player of the Year in 2008 and was named captain of the club for the 2008-09 season.
 
MacDonald retired from his illustrious playing career in 2014 as the then-all-time record holder for international appearances on the U.S. national team with 67 caps. That record has since been surpassed, but he retains the runner-up position.
 
One year prior to his retirement from playing, MacDonald returned to Berkeley to join Cal's staff as an assistant coach. Over his nine years as an assistant coach, MacDonald helped his alma mater to seven national championships, including five consecutive national sevens titles from 2013-17.
 
"We are so proud of Mac. What a storied career in university, international and professional rugby," Cal head coach Jack Clark said. "The Macdonald's have been part of our Cal community for 70 years. Big Mac was a Golden Bear at birth. Now, he honors his family name with this Hall of Fame induction. This is truly a celebration."
 
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