[2] While enrolled at Albion College, McKale competed in baseball, football, and long jump.
[1] McKale was named a two-time All-State athlete in both football and baseball at Albion College.
A four-year varsity letter winner in both baseball and football, McKale served as the student president of the MIAA in 1909–10.
The school principal, Harold Steele, was a fellow Albion alum and he hired McKale by telegram.
[4] Following his arrival in September 1911, McKale taught history and served as the coach for all of Tucson High's athletic programs.
On Thanksgiving that year his football team defeated the University of Arizona junior varsity squad 11–0.
[2] Upon his arrival at the University of Arizona, McKale served as the school's athletic director and coach for the varsity football and basketball teams.
Following the game a Los Angeles Times reporter wrote "“the Arizona men showed the fight of wildcats…”[1] The school motto came over a decade later.
On October 3, 1926, John "Button" Salmon was involved in an automobile accident which caused severe damage to his spine.
McKale told the football team of Salmon's message during a pregame talk before their next game.
[8] McKale was also interested in history, with his primary focus upon George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.