Ed started his head coaching career as the baseball coach at Ida Grove High School, in Ida Grove, Iowa. He also played fast pitch softball for 5 years with the Ida Grove Merchants. Ed became head softball coach at Greenway High School in the fall of 1979. Under McQuade's tenure, the Greenway High School Team's total overall record is 836 wins 253 losses and 3 ties. Ed's teams at Greenway won 5 State Championships, two State Champion Runners up, and 21 Regional Championships. Greenway competed 36 out of 38 straight years in post season play. Ed was named 4 time Arizona Coach of the Year, and earned numerous Regional Coach of the Year honors. Ed also coached the Destiny and Scorpio girls club softball teams. His Scorpio team won Rocky Mountain Championship, qualified for three Metro tournaments, 3 Regional Tournaments, Hawaii Tourney 3rd Place, Disneyworld Tourney (2001) Champions.