Former East Carolina football player and Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill has been named ECU's next head football coach.
The Associated Press
Okalhoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson is among the leading candidates to be ECU next head football coach.
The Associated Press
Current East Carolina offensive coordinator Steve Shankweiler is a finalist for the head coach job.
Pirates reach into program's past to move ahead
The Daily Reflector
Friday, January 22, 2010
East Carolina University chose someone from its past to lead the school into its football future.
A week-long search by the university for a new head football coach ended Thursday with the hiring of 51-year-old ECU alum Ruffin McNeill as the next man to lead the Pirates and the 20th football coach in school history.
McNeill most recently was the interim head coach at Texas Tech, where he guided the Red Raiders to a victory over Michigan State at the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2. Before that, McNeill served as Tech’s defensive coordinator under head coach Mike Leach.
McNeill replaces Skip Holtz, who announced he was leaving ECU last week to become the next head coach at South Florida. Holtz’s late departure put considerable pressure on ECU athletic director Terry Holland to make a smart but fast choice in a market with few available candidates.
“You’re always worried this late because you run into student-athlete recruitment and assistant coaches get taken, so the bowl becomes more shallow. But I had confidence we’d find the right person because I knew what Terry was doing and who he was evaluating,” ECU chancellor Dr. Steve Ballard said after the ECU Board of Trustees made the new hire official shortly after a 5 p.m. emergency meeting inside the Spilman Building on campus.
“I was a little concerned about the timing, but when I saw the people we were evaluating, I thought we’d be fine,” Ballard said.
After Middle Tennessee State head coach Rick Stockstill removed his name from consideration for the job on Tuesday morning, Holland appeared to have narrowed his search to four candidates by Wednesday night — McNeill, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, ECU offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterbacks coach Mike Shula.
Wilson reportedly interviewed Wednesday night, while Shankweiler likely interviewed last Saturday. McNeill, a former ECU defensive back, defensive line coach and a 1980 graduate of the university, interviewed Thursday morning, and it was that interview which seemed to pave the way for his hire.
“His human skills and his interpersonal skills are A-plus, and I think you’ll see that the minute you talk to him,” Ballard said of McNeill. “I had a great hour-and-a-half with him today. I did my own referencing on these people, and everybody who knows Ruffin says the same thing about him.”
Holland, who made the second football coach hire of his six-year tenure at the school, joined the trustees meeting via teleconference. Holland fired John Thompson toward the end of the 2004 season before hiring Holtz in December of that year.
“Coach McNeill’s interview revealed his strong commitment to doing things the right way and his love of coaching young men to grow in every part of their lives,” Holland said. “His excitement for what ECU football can become in the future was contagious and his deep and abiding appreciation for what East Carolina University has meant to him and his family was truly moving.”
McNeil was named the interim coach at TTU after Leach was fired for the mistreatment of a player.
The first black head football coach in ECU history, McNeill will be introduced at a press conference at 11 a.m. today.
McNeill’s contract runs through the 2015 season. He will be paid a base salary of $200,000, but will also be compensated a minimum of an additional $200,000 for season ticket sales this year, with the amount increasing $25,000 each year. Pirate Club funds will add an additional $100,000 to the deal this year, also increasingly by $25,000 each year.
There are also incentives based on academic progress, radio and television appearances and postseason appearances and performances.
Prior to his arrival at Texas Tech in 2000 as a linebackers coach, McNeill made coaching stops at Fresno State, UNLV, Appalachian State, ECU, North Alabama, Austin Peay and Clemson.
Contact Nathan Summers at nsummers@reflector.com or (252)329-9595.
Previous story:
An East Carolina official said Wednesday there were three or four prime targets to become the next ECU head football coach.
Two days after Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill removed his name from consideration to become the replacement for Skip Holtz, ECU athletic director Terry Holland was back at the drawing board, and was reportedly involved in the interviewing process.
A source close to the coaching search told The Reflector Wednesday evening that Mike Shula, quarterbacks coach for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars and former Alabama coach, was a lead candidate.
Liberty coach Danny Rocco was also at the front of the pack, but the coach on Wednesday finalized a contract extension that will keep him with the Flames through the 2014 season, a Lynchburg, Va., source confirmed to The Reflector, eliminating Rocco from contention.
The Liberty coach was contacted but not interviewed by Holland.
Other leading candidates who were reportedly poised to interview with Holland as of Wednesday night are Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, former Texas Tech defensive coordinator and ECU alum Ruffin McNeill and ECU co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler.
Two sources in Oklahoma indicated Wilson would be very interested in the ECU job if offered.
Holland will reportedly conduct at least three interviews before a hire is made to replace Holtz, who left ECU last week to become the new head coach at the University of South Florida.
Bowling Green head coach Dave Clawson was thought to be a candidate, but sources close to the BGSU football program stated Clawson was not contacted and was in attendance at the Falcons men’s basketball game Tuesday night.
Also, the publicist for North Alabama and former Auburn coach Terry Bowden said Wednesday he had not been contacted regarding the Pirates’ job.
On Tuesday morning, Stockstill announced he was removing his name from consideration for the ECU opening and staying at MTSU.
Until then, he was the only candidate believed to be interviewed for the job since Holtz announced last Thursday afternoon he was taking the USF position.
Other possible candidates include Grambling head coach Rod Broadway, Temple head coach Al Golden, Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster, former Clemson head coach Tommy Bowden, former Boston College head coach and ECU staffer Jeff Jagodzinski and Navy defensive coordinator and Charlotte native Buddy Green.
Contact Nathan Summers at nsummers@reflector.com or (252)329-9595.
Comments
From a Texas Tech alum and booster
Having lived in Rocky Mount during the mid-90's and having hired a number of ECU graduates during that time, my wife and I gained a lot of respect for the school. The students there know how to work--unlike the (seemingly) majority at UNC, NC State, Duke and Wake Forest.
That is one reason McNeil, or Ruff as we called him in Texas, will do so well. Ruff knows how to work and he knows how to spot that key ethic in recruits, players and coaches.
Once Mike Leach pulled his stubborn, arrogant head from his spacious behind and realized that scoring 60 points a game did you no good if your defense allowed 70 points, he gave Ruff the responsibility of shutting down the best the Big 12 had to offer.
Our conference has explosive, powerful offenses that include, besides Tech, Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and (sometimes) Colorado. The Big 12 is to college football what the ACC is to college basketball--a force to be reckoned with, and with an average of one third to one half of the teams perennially in the Top 25.
Point is, McNeil not only knows what it takes to get into the Top 25 and stay there, he is comfortable in making the changes necessary FOR it to happen.
You guys are gonna love Lincoln Riley. He was a student of the Mad Scientist's famous spread offense, and he passed his exam at the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State. He called a superb game and did it with a third-rate quarterback no less.
Riley knows what to look for in high school talent, and it wouldn't surprise anyone here to see him start recruiting from some of the powerhouse Texas high schools for quarterbacks and receivers. Mike Leach lit a huge fire in Texas high school football with his spread offense, and now a large number of Texas schoolboy programs have adopted it. That means plenty of recruiting opportunities.
I will guarantee you this: ECU football is going to be some kind of fun to watch! If/when Riley's offense begins putting up the kind of numbers Tech's offense does, you guys are gonna get more media coverage than the Raleigh/Durham area schools.
Sorry for the length, but the wife and I have very fond memories of eastern North Carolina, the Outer Banks, Beaufort, Greenville, and even Raleigh. Just wanted to let you ECU folks know that you have a good coach who is putting together a good staff. He'll run a very clean program and make the players better people for the four years they spend with him.
Best of luck to you, and now we'll be following the ECU Pirates.
from JamaicaBeach, Galveston Island, Texas
Coaches
I would like to say that I do believe that ECU has made a great hire with Ruffin McNeill and I think that he will do a fine job. I really wish that he would have kept some of the coaches that were on the Skip Holtz Staff to keep some continuity. They have done a tremendous job over the past few years. I am really going to hate to see them go especially Coach Junior Smith and Coach Shankweiler who have done great things for this university and this community. Well I know that GOD has a bigger and better plan for them and I know that they will land on their feet somewhere. You all will always be apart of "The Pirate Nation" and will surely be missed.
Good luck!
From a Red Raider alum, I wanted to write and let the ECU folks know that I think you've acquired a fantastic football coach in Ruffin McNeill. I am quite happy he was able to take a job where his talents and experience will be well used and appreciated, and I wish ECU best of luck in coming seasons. I've never had much personal reason to follow ECU, but I'll be rooting for the Pirates in 2010 on account of my great respect for Ruffin as a coach and as a man.
color
What is wrong with you people PIRATES ARE PURPLE AND GOLD!
wisdom
This white boy is happy Coach McNeill is our football coach.He has been in a winning environment at Texas Tech.He knows what it takes to be successful at a very high level.Race is not an issue with me.I am behind Ruffin 100 percent!Next year will be a tough year regardless of who would have been coaching ECU. The loss of so many seniors will require great patience and be a challenge.Coach McNeill will need a couple of recruiting classes under his belt to get the personnel to fully implement his style of play. Expect an offensive explosion in the next few years with Lincoln Riley , no conservative play calling.We are getting ready to see some excitement at Dowdy-Fincklen.Go Pirates and welcome home Ruffin !
:)
Wisdom
I had to smile at you saying "this white boy" is happy.
Same here my man, I am behind Coach Ruffin 100% and I really think this will turn out well for ECU.
PLEASE
KEEP THE BOOT LICKING TO A MINIMUM
Congrats Coach McNeill
I think Coach McNeill will find success at ECU. But it will take some time, with 28 graduating seniors plus Linval Joseph and any other juniors who decide to move on the NFL early (Man, he would have been an anchor of the DL.) But, Coach McNeill can bring in that exciting Texas Tech spread offense, and maybe a few Texas Tech recruits put some real excitement in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. I was here at ECU during his college years. He and Reggie Pinkney (Patrick's dad) were the rock solid character players on the team. I am sure he will run a high character, clean program. He will be a players' coach, as long as the players give their all, go to class, and stay out of trouble. Also, ECU has been just a stepping stone job for years. If successful, Ruffin will be happy to make this job his destination job. Good luck, coach. I hope you will be retiring from ECU in about 20 years with about 200 wins on your resume. To speech: PLEASE TURN YOUR CAPS LOCK OFF.
concerning mcneill
I NEVER SAID THAT MCNEIL MAY NOT BE A GOOD COACH.HE SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME QUALITIES THAT MADE HOLTZ A GOOD COACH.I AM 100% SUPPORTIVE OF HIM AND EXCITED FOR ECU.WHAT I WROTE WAS NOT FOCUSED AGAINST HIM BUT AGAINST RACSIST REDNECKS WHO ARE NOT AS RIGHTEOUS AS YOURSELF AND OTHERS.WHAT I WROTE WAS THE TRUTH WHETHER WHITES AND SOME IGNORANT BLACKS CHOOSE TO ADMIT IT.THOSE WHO ARE NOT BLACK CANNOT BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY HAVE NOT LIVED-THINGS ARE NOT LEAVE IT TO BEAVER FOR EVERYONE.MY THOUGHTS ARE LEGIT AND MY CAPS WILL REMAIN ON THANK YOU VERY MUCH C.S. SO GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK
Race
I wonder in the 30th century will people still be going on about race? It's sad that we can't move past this. I can only hope Mcneil was hired because he is a good coach, which I think he is.
Rick James is a man
of integrity and common sense. I hope we all feel the way he does. I didn't think about Ruffin being black when he was hired. The color of a Pirate is purple.
oh boy...
Ummm last I checked We (yes I am black) are the Majority population in Eastern NC! Look at the congressional seats of white to black and you will see that black people are well represented in Eastern NC!
I am not happy that Ruffin McNeil was hired because he and I share the same skin tone.
However, I am happy he was hired because he is a good coach!
I think this was a fabulous move by Terry Holland.
Not trying to start a fued here, just stating the obvious.
I suppose....
we discriminated against Ricky Stokes, huh. I believe Ricky just might have been black but I didn't hear it brought up when he was losing. Can't you go one day without bringing up race?
A...
MEN!
COACH MCNEILL
I CONGRATULATE THE NEW COACH OF ECU!THIS SEASON IS GOING TO BE VERY EXCITING!!HOWEVER,I BEING A BLACK MAN MYSELF CANT HELP BUT TO THINK OF THE OBSTACLES AND CRITICISMS THIS MAN WILL GO THROUGH AS BEING THE FIRST BLACK COACH OF ECU-A SCHOOL KNOWN FOR DISCRIMATING PRACTICES BASED IN VERY CONSERVATIVE/REPUBLICAN GREENVILLE, NC.HE WILL HAVE TO BE TWICE AS GOOD AS COACH HOLTZ BUT I THINK HE WILL BRING ALOT OF REVENUE TO ECU AND THIS CITY.I COMMEND A.D. HOLLAND FOR TURNING THE CORNER,POSSIBLY PUTTING HIS OWN JOB ON THE LINE, MAKING ECU ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF DIVISION 1 SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BLACK HEAD COACHES.IF MCNEILL IS SUCCESSFUL,THIS WILL PUT THE SCHOOL ON THE MAP AND WILL ATTRACT HIGH QUALITY PROSPECTS.GET READY EVERYBODY;THE PIRATES ARE ABOUT TO SAIL INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY!!!!PUT ASIDE YOUR PREJUDICES AND COME ALONG FOR THE RIDE!
Your FACTS are Wrong
Greenville politics is dominated by the democRAT party. Of course that discrimination you speak of could not possibly be from the democRAT party.
OK
PITT COUNTY DID GATHER UP SOME BALLS AND VOTED 'DEM'BY THE SKIN OF THEIR TEETH-BUT IT STILL DOES NOT CHANGE WHAT MOST OF GREENVILLE IS. REPUBLICKLAN. THE OLD WAYS WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
What Predudices...?
I have been hearing nothing but overwhelming support and general enthusiasm for this man and his family. At some point (and I'm not trying to make a statement) but the whole race thing needs to be dropped by both sides. As a white man fairly conservative and ECU Alum I am beside myself for this move and very happy that coach Ruff is here and he will have all my support 100%. But lets not forget "Speech" this is a business and poor performance is not rewarded by contract extensions or bonuses, college firings happen every season and it has nothing to do with race. It saddens me that I have to read comments like yours, I knew it would only be a matter of time before someone pulled "The Race Card", very sad comment on an other wise very joyfull day. Go coach Ruff!!! and Go Pirates (White, Black, Brown, Yellow, Green) WTFE!
GOOD FOR YOU
IT IS GREAT'JOLLY',THAT YOU FEEL THIS WAY ABOUT OUR NEW COACH AND WE NEED MORE LIKE YOU.MOST DO NOT THINK THE WAY YOU DO.HE IS ALREADY BEING CONSIDERED AN EXPERIMENT,JUST READ THE OTHER POSTS.BY THE WAY;I HATE WRITING THE TRUTH AS MUCH AS YOU HATE READING IT.
Every New Hire
Is an experiment...ask former ECU coach Holtz about all the criticisim he got before coming here.... Way more than Ruff is experiencing I can tell you that much. And quit knocking the Repubs this isn't Washington we are talking about here, this is good ol' ECU football this is a joyous time for all Pirates.
Welcome coach McNeill!
Welcome coach McNeill! Excited about continuing our momentum this year!
from 5 years
The world you live in is not the real world of NCAA athletics. And by the way.... I am a retired Realtor.
Ruff
Go to Red Raider.com
to 5 years
you must be a realtor
IF the coach does a good job, the contract would be extended in the same manner as the player doing his job on the field and with grades.
Otherwise both will be gone
Very shallow reasoning on why you would pay an unproven head coach , who doesn't do the job, $500,000 for no performance in the out years he is gone
You have a short memory- we were paying three coaches- two not working- because of asinine contract terms such as a 5 year deal.
Here let me give you the sentence to tell the recruit- "I have a three year contract but I intend to be here for many years BECAUSE I will earn it!!!!!"
The "Ruff" and Tough Pirates
Sounds like Coach McNeill is already doing some good recruiting. Welcome back to Pirate country coach! I can't wait to see what Dwaine Harris is going to do next year with this coach and his staff. I predict that Coach McNeill is going to be able to maintain what we have come to expect from a Pirate defense while at the same time giving us an offense more like the Texas teams. I further predict that if Dwaine can maintain his focus he will be a first round draft pick next year. Let's stop the whining and get behind "Our" new coach. Go Pirates!!!
Red Raiders Love Ruffin
I have viewed the Texas Tech website for the last 30 days when the Mike Leach debacle was unfolding and Ruffin McNeill is highly regarded in Red Raider Nation. A majority of the fans are sad to see him go. He was caught up in a political fiasco between administrators and Coach Mike Leach.He will be good for ECU!
I'll remain faithful...
I'll continue to put my faith in Terry Holland's experience and expertise. Having never heard of Ruffin McNeill prior to last week, I can't say anything good/bad about him. His credentials are impressive and I look forward to next season. Welcome back to Pirate Nation, Coach McNeill! You've got no small task ahead of you.
Lincoln Riley, meet Dwayne Harris
Exciting offense awaits. And recruits will come.
We are going to wish Lincoln Riley is here five years.
Great hire by a great man.
Thanks Terry Holland.
Great article on our new OC below.
http://startelegramsports.typepad.com/colleges/2010/01/lincoln-riley-can...
5 Years.................
is necessary. Do you really want our coach to walk into a recruit's home and say "Oh, I have a three year contract so I might not be around to see you graduate but come play for me anyway."? I don't believe that taxpayer money is paying for this either.
Congratulations!!!
"The Real Deal - It's Coach McNeill"
Welcome back Coach! Watched you play here and love having you return!!! I can hardly wait until ticket sales begin. I'm gonna be first in line! Aarrgggg! Go Pirates!!!
contract is 5 years???
really, somebody has to take a course in contract negotiation- 5 years- Board of trustees are a bunch of sheep
He may be a great head coach , and I hope he is, but to give the man a 5 year contract is playing loose with taxpayer money, don't you think??
And do not tell me its the market- want a million dollar home in california- I can get you one for $500,000!!!
Why all the drama?
Coach Ruffin took a team that found itself mired in scandal, lawsuits and chaos to a Bowl game, motivated his players, helped them re-gain their focus and BEAT Michigan State. I think that speaks highly of the man! Give him a chance! If he doesn't work out- have a list of prospective coaches ready! Until then, let's get behind our Pirates and stop being a bunch of naysayers!!!
what if?
he is a crazy thought....what if Ruff hired Mike Leach as his OC to come with him to ECU?
mmmmmmmmm????????
That would be the best of both worlds!
New ECU Fan post #2
No sooner had I entered my first post than a buddy forwarded a link from the Ft. Worth Star Telegram than indeed Coach Ruff has named Lincoln Riley as the new ECU OC. Again, this is a dynamic young coach that can absolutely recruit. Next - Dennis Simmons??
New ECU Fan
ECU Alums - Congrats on hiring Coach Ruff. In this Texas Tech Alum's opinion, this will prove to have been a great hire. Yes, Tech went with Tubberville but trust me - it wasn't for a lack of conviction in Coach Ruff's abilities. They simply believed they couldn't pass on a guy with a couple of undefeated seasons under his belt. Coach Ruff's credentials are solid. You won't find a Tech player, administrator, or fan with a single negative thing to say about him. Tech had a horrible defense prior to Ruff taking over the DC position. Leach was a great coach but the D had never been a priority and it showed. Ruff immediately turned the situation around through his love of the kids and passion for the game. The D had developed confidence and an identity under Ruff, and transformed the unit from pathetic to very solid. The entire roster was completely behind him, which further speaks to his character -- not surprisingly he'd long been one of Tech's top two or three recruiters. Lastly, I'll be surprised if you don't find yourself with Lincoln Riley and Dennis Simmons on the ECU staff. They were the other top recruiters. Lincoln and Dennis not only landed some of our top recruits in Texas but also were primarily responsible for the progress we were starting to make in Florida, the southeast, and the Memphis area (Simmons his heavily connected in the latter). I'll always be a Raider but count me as the newest ECU fan. Continued success to Pirate Nation.
Thanks New Fan
Your words are very encouraging. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and observations. As an ECU alum, naturally I've watched this and the last 10 searches unfold. Over the last few years I have begun to watch the rise of TTU with some admiration and yes, envy. Hopefully, Coach McNeill will do for us what TTU has done over tha last few years. Continued success, Red Raider. Glad to have you on board as a fellow Pirate.
Welcome Home, Coach McNeill
Too many people are hung up on the NAME game. BOWDEN. Wow, he's such a hot commodity that three dozen Division I schools passed on him. Did a school even bother to interview him? SHULA. In four years at Alabama, he had one winning season. ONE! His 26-23 record may be the worst 4-year stretch in school history. If you can't win at Alabama, well, you pretty-much can't win anywhere. My top picks were the 4 young, hungry head coaches who should have viewed coming to ECU as a promotion (Stockstill, Rocco, Golden, Clawson). But I trust Coach Holland's judgment. The decision has been made; I'm on-board all the way with Coach McNeill, and I'm ready to buy my season tickets. GO PIRATES!!!!
Yeaaahhhh!
I'm so excited about next season. Coach Mcneil is going to lead us to many winning season.
Holland
I hate to say this but my confidence in this AD has dissipated, this is a huge gamble and should not have happened. I lay this squarely on Holland. This seems to be the same situation we have in basketball,we will flounder around for several years and stay second fiddle to everyone. Terry Holland will be too old to ever see the level again where we are now. I was thrilled when Holland was hired but this makes sorry he ever came to ECU.
apology
I apologize for the remarks that I made last night. Controling the tongue is a wise thing to do and I did not act wise. I wish nothing but the best for everyone involved in this process.
What Beatdown???
When did this beatdown you speak of happen? Maybe you watched some other ECU/VT games than the rest of us. I definitely didn't see any beatdowns by VT - maybe some shattered dreams in Charlotte... Skip's demeanor/approach is what made him a good fit at ECU. His players liked him, the administration liked him, and the Pirate Nation liked him. McNeil seems like someone that can keep that going. Settling would have been hiring Mike Leech, Jim Leavitt, or Tommy Bowden - USC or Tennessee would have scooped them up if they were so great. Right now, who knows what will happen with the team...the staff's not even in place. One thing is for sure - come September there's going to be a ton of rowdy Pirates cheering for this new coach and his team in the newly-expanded Dowdy Ficklen Stadium! ARRRGH!
new coach
Not what alot of us wanted but nows the time to shutup and give the new coach all the support we can. So now I say to you coach McNeill PURPLE!!!
Go Hokies
To bad ECU had to settle for a head coach thats never really even been a coordinator. I guess things will quickly return to the pre Holtz days. At least I can look forward to the game in Blacksburg next year. Its allways fun to watch the Hokies put a beat down on a bottom feeder program in between the real games.
In my opinion
throught the many Hokie fans I know and consider close friends and even ones I've met on game day, you are not a representative of Hokie Nation, as I'm sure they don't claim you as one of their own. You have no credit here or on any Hokie message board, good job.
Welcome home Ruffin !
Ruffin McNeill is a good fit for ECU ! He is one of us and will be more loyal to the success of our football program. I am behind coach McNeill 100 percent.Go Pirates !
Coach McNeil
Coach McNeil has a pretty impressive resume on defense. If he can recruit some coaching and player talent to fill out the Pirates for next year, it should be interesting. It will be nice to have an old Pirate back at ECU. Good luck Coach McNeil! Go Pirates!
McNeil Hire
Wow! What is Holland thinking! Tech didn't want him and now we are going to be stuck with him.
In all fairness
Coach Holtz was "unwanted" when he was hired @ ECU since S. Carolina had fired him...plus its common practice for new head coaches to bring in their own guys, so apparently Tuberville had his own coaches and that's why he left TT. This move is eerily similar to why Skip left: McNeil is from Lumberton and his youngest daughter is a student at App State...it's a good family move for him had he's been an assistant coach for 24 years...he's paid his dues and I hope nothing but the best for ECU!
Coach McNeill
This could be a very proud thing or an OMG. My heart of hearts is with Coach McNeill all the way. One good thing is he might be able to broaden our talent search area for players AND assistant coaches to include Texas. It seems Tubbie didn't keep many assistants at TT. Hopefully, he can give some upgrades there. Best of luck my fellow alum!!
mcneil
best possible hire,he coached under a successful coach in leach and has bound to have some contacts in texas,a hotbed of high school football.he really wanted job and should be a terrific recruiter because of his rapport with black atheletes.i wish him all the sucess and luck in the world and hope he does ecu proud.