LUMBERTON'S MCNEILL TO INTERVIEW FOR ECU FOOTBALL JOB

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1 LUMBERTON'S MCNEILL TO INTERVIEW FOR ECU FOOTBALL JOB Fayetteville Observer By Sammy Batten January 21, 2010 Ruffin McNeill is coming home. The only question is it for a visit or to stay? The Lumberton native and former East Carolina defensive back flew to his home state Wednesday evening from Lubbock, Texas, to interview for the head coach vacancy at his college alma mater. It was not known if the interview took place last night or if McNeill and ECU athletic director Terry Holland would talk today. But McNeill was scheduled to arrive at Raleigh-Durham International Airport about 8 p.m. Wednesday and travel by car to Greenville, according to a source close to the situation. Holland is seeking a replacement for Skip Holtz, who left for a job at South Florida last week after coaching the Pirates to 38 victories and consecutive Conference USA titles in five seasons. He first offered the job to Middle Tennessee's Rick Stockstill, but the former Florida State quarterback turned down the offer Monday morning. A source told the Observer that Holland had previously contacted McNeill about interviewing for the job. But at that time an offer was on the table to Stockstill, although Holland wasn't sure he would accept it. McNeill chose not to fly across country for an interview at that time with an offer out to another coach. But that changed when Stockstill removed his name from consideration. "Coach Holland got back in touch with Ruffin and he's on his way to Greenville,'' the source said Wednesday. McNeill has spent the past 10 seasons as an assistant at Texas Tech, serving the last 2 1/2as defensive coordinator. He was thrust into the national limelight earlier this month when he was promoted to interim head coach in the wake of Mike Leach's controversial firing over allegations he abused a player. The 51-year-old was the figure that the Texas Tech players rallied around amid the controversy. The team responded to McNeill's leadership by pulling out a victory at the Valero Alamo Bowl over Michigan State on Jan. 2. McNeill was so well liked by the Tech players that many came out after the bowl game in support of him to become the program's new head coach. The job went to Tommy Tuberville, who didn't retain McNeill for his new staff. But McNeill was such a popular figure at Texas Tech that the school's chancellor offered him a position as an assistant athletic director last week. Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh had McNeill travel to Palo Alto, Calif., last week to interview for a job on his staff. He was also being looked at as a candidate for positions at Oklahoma and Tennessee, a source said. McNeill's coaching career began at Lumberton High School, where he worked from He moved to the college ranks, where he was a graduate assistant at Clemson under Danny Ford, in Over the next 23 years, McNeill would work at Austin Peay, North Alabama, Appalachian State, ECU (as defensive line coach in 1992), UNLV, Fresno State and Texas Tech.

2 TEXAS TECH S MCNEILL TO BECOME ECU S COACH Sun-Journal David Hall January 21, 2010 GREENVILLE Former Texas Tech assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill will be introduced as East Carolina s 20th head football coach today during an 11 a.m. press conference. McNeill, a 51-year-old Lumberton native and former Pirates player and assistant, was hired Thursday to replace Skip Holtz, who left ECU last week after five seasons to become the head coach at South Florida. ECU athletics director Terry Holland said McNeill s interview revealed a commitment to doing things the right way and a love for coaching players to grow in every facet of their lives. There is no doubt about his ability to lead ECU football to new heights and his determination to guarantee that happens under his watch, Holland said in a statement issued by the school. He intends to bring new and exciting offensive schemes to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, combined with an aggressive defense that will be designed to get the ball back in the offense s hands. McNeill spent 10 seasons at Texas Tech and the last two as its defensive coordinator, serving as interim head coach during the Red Raiders win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl this month after Mike Leach was suspended for alleged abuse of a player. Leach was later fired. Among the stops during McNeill s coaching career, all of which have been as an assistant, are Fresno State, UNLV, Appalachian State, North Alabama and Austin Peay State. McNeill was ECU s defensive line coach in 1992, 12 years after graduating from the school. As a four-year letter-winner for the Pirates, McNeill was a three-year starter at defensive back and a team captain for two seasons. As a freshman in 1976, he helped lead ECU to a Southern Conference championship, the Pirates last league title until they won back-to-back Conference USA championship games in 2008 and 2009 under Holtz. McNeill, who has coached in 13 bowl games, is the first black head football coach in ECU history. The Executive Committee of the ECU Board of Trustees, acting on behalf of the full board, approved the appointment of McNeill and the outline of his contract in a conference call meeting Thursday evening. The full board will consider McNeill s contract at a regular meeting next month. Holtz went at ECU and took the Pirates to a school-record four straight bowl games before heading to South Florida, a move he said would allow him to be closer to members of his family. Ruffin McNeill Collegiate coaching experience , Texas Tech, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator 2007, Texas Tech, Assistant Head Coach/Interim Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Tackles , Texas Tech, Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams, Coordinator/Defensive Tackles

3 , Texas Tech, Assistant/Linebackers 1999, Fresno State/Defensive Line 1998, UNLV, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator 1997, UNLV, Assistant/Defensive Coordinator 1996, Miami Dolphins, Summer Internship , Appalachian State/Defensive Coordinator 1992, East Carolina, Assistant/Defensive Line , Appalachian State, Assistant/Linebackers 1988, North Alabama, Assistant/Linebackers 1987, Austin Peay State, Assistant/Linebackers Clemson, Graduate Assistant/Linebackers Postseason experience 2008 Cotton Bowl 2007 Gator Bowl 2006 Insight Bowl 2005 Cotton Bowl 2004 Holiday Bowl 2003 Houston Bowl 2002 Tangerine Bowl 2001 Alamo Bowl 2000 Galleryfurniture.com Bowl 1999 Las Vegas Bowl Division I-AA Playoffs Division I-AA Playoffs 1986 Gator Bowl 1985 Independence Bowl

4 1978 Independence Bowl (player) Personal Born: Oct. 9, 1958, Lumberton Education: East Carolina 80, Clemson 87 Family: Wife, Erlene; daughters Olivia, 19, and Renata, 29

5 ECU PICKS ALUM COACH News and Oberver Caulton Tudor January 22, 2010 East Carolina has chosen Ruffin McNeill - who worked as Texas Tech's interim coach in the team's recent bowl victory - to be its football coach, athletic director Terry Holland announced Thursday. McNeill, a 51-year-old Lumberton native and former ECU defensive back, replaces Skip Holtz, who resigned Jan. 13 to become coach at South Florida after leading the Pirates to four bowl games and two Conference USA championships in five seasons. The executive committee of the ECU Board of Trustees, acting for the full board, approved the appointment Thursday evening. The board will consider McNeill's contract at a regular meeting next month, according to a news release. "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 in a statement released Thursday night. "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." McNeill took over as interim coach when Texas Tech fired coach Mike Leach for allegedly mistreating a player. The Red Raiders eventually selected former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville as the permanent head coach, and McNeill was not retained on the staff. Since playing for the Pirates in the late '70s, McNeill has worked as a defensive aide at eight schools, including ECU in 1992, Clemson for two seasons in the mid '80s and Appalachian State in the mid '90s. He went to Texas Tech in 2000 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in ECU plans a news conference to introduce McNeill as coach this morning, according to media relations director Tom McClellan. McNeill landed the job after overtures with several established coaches didn't pan out. Middle Tennessee State coach Rick Stockstill was believed to be interested earlier in the week but eventually withdrew from consideration. McNeill led Texas Tech to a Alamo Bowl win over Michigan State earlier this month.

6 ECU NAMES ALUM AS HEAD COACH The Daily Reflector By Nathan Summers January 22, 2010 Exactly one week after football coach Skip Holtz said farewell to East Carolina University while standing in the shadow of ECU s Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, a new ECU football era has begun. The university and Athletics Director Terry Holland on Thursday hired Ruffin McNeill, an ECU alum, former player and assistant coach, as its 20th head football coach. McNeill most recently served as interim head coach at Texas Tech, where he worked his way up from linebackers coach in 2000 to become the team s defensive coordinator. After Holtz announced he was headed for South Florida, Holland tried to lure Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill to Greenville. But Stockstill decided to stay in Tennessee, leaving the door open for McNeill, whose interview Thursday elevated him above two other candidates. Holland interviewed ECU offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler last week and Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson on Wednesday, but ultimately chose McNeill. The new head coach will be introduced at a press conference at 11 a.m. today. There is no doubt about his ability to lead ECU football to new heights and his determination to guarantee that happens under his watch, Holland said of McNeill, who played defensive back at ECU in the late 1970s before returning as a defensive line coach for one season under head coach Steve Logan in He intends to bring new and exciting offensive schemes to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, combined with an aggressive defense that will be designed to get the ball back in the offense s hands. According to ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard, there was little doubting McNeill s qualifications upon meeting him on Thursday morning. Ballard later oversaw an emergency meeting of the ECU Board of Trustees to approve the hire of McNeill and his five-year contract. It marked the end of a stressful week for ECU officials. There is pressure, but I think the pressure is because our program is at a new level, Ballard said of the hire. We re not looking backwards, we re looking up from here. The pressure, really, is to take what we now have and build on it. I don t think Terry was feeling pressure on the name (of the candidate), I think he was feeling pressure to get the right fit for ECU. That takes some time. RuffinMcNeill BIRTH DATE: Oct. 9, FAMILY: McNeill and his wife, Erlene, have two daughters, Olivia, 19, and Renata, 29. Olivia is a sophomore at Appalachian State.

7 EDUCATION: A four-year letterwinner at East Carolina from , McNeill was a three-year starter at defensive back and was the team captain for two seasons. He helped lead ECU to the Southern Conference Championship in 1976 and an Independence Bowl berth in He graduated from East Carolina in 1980 and received a master s degree in counseling from Clemson in FORMER POSITION: Assistant coach and defensive coordinator at Texas Tech since CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: McNeill spent three seasons on the hill at Appalachian State, where the team won the Southern Conference title in In his first tour of duty at ASU, the school appeared in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs each season. He returned to the Boone, N.C., program after a year as defensive line coach at his alma mater, East Carolina, in As defensive coordinator at Appalachian State from , the team won the 1995 Southern Conference title and competed in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs at the conclusion of the regular seasons.

8 PIRATES REACH INTO PROGRAM'S PAST TO MOVE AHEAD The Daily Reflector By Nathan Summers 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

9 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.

10 MCNEILL SAYS HE'S HOME, BRINGS RILEY WITH HIM The Daily Reflector By Nathan Summers January 22, 2010 Ruffin McNeill said hello to East Carolina University Friday. Again. McNeill, in fact, formally began his third tour of duty at the university, this time as ECU s 20th head football coach. Now that he s back, the ECU alum and former Pirate player said he s here for the long haul. This is my destination job, the 51-year-old McNeill, a Lumberton native, told a packed Harvey Hall. This is not a stepping stone hop for Ruff. This is where I want to be until you all tote me away from here. You d have to drag me away. McNeill promised to maintain a high academic standard and vowed to love each of his players in what is his first head coaching job, but he also vowed to uphold the winning standard of the repeat Conference USA champion Pirates. To that end, McNeill confirmed he s not only bringing 26-year-old Lincoln Riley (former Texas Tech wide receivers coach) on board to be his offensive coordinator, but that he ll be bringing the same offense that was employed at Texas Tech during his 10-year stint with the Red Raiders prior to coming to Greenville. McNeill also promised to try to hang on to all of ECU s committed recruits as the Feb. 3 national signing day approaches, and said he was poised to hit the recruiting road immediately. For at least an hour Friday, however, it was more of a welcome back party than a press conference, as even some of McNeill s former ECU teammates were on hand to congratulate the new head coach. It s a dream come true for an East Carolina boy, McNeill said, adding that his wife, brother, sister-in-law and brother-in-law all attended ECU. This is my alma mater. I have a lot of ties to Greenville, East Carolina and this university. From a football focal point, McNeill admits it won t be easy. The Pirates, who last week learned of the departure of five-year coach Skip Holtz for South Florida, lose 28 seniors from their 2009 squad, including quarterback Patrick Pinkney and the entire defensive front seven. McNeill met with the current players Thursday night. This is a fun challenge, said McNeill, who was given a five-year $5 million contract. There is nothing intimidating or hard about this at all. Those kids that we met last night, I got the chance to love them up, hug them up, but we also set some standards and some expectations as a group. ECU athletic director Terry Holland made the hire exactly one week after Holtz, who guided the Pirates to four straight bowl games, announced he was leaving ECU for USF. Middle Tennessee State head coach Rick Stockstill declined interest in the position earlier this week before Ruffin emerged from a final group of the three candidates who were interviewed later in the week. ECU offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler was believed to also be a front-runner for the job, and Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson interviewed with Holland on Wednesday night. But Holland admitted it was Ruffin s interview on Thursday which made the decision an easy one.

11 It s been a tough week on me, but I ve never been so proud of this university or of this man, an emotional Holland said. It is a very special day in the history of this university. McNeill spent 10 years in Lubbock, Texas, with TTU, being hired in 2000 as linebackers coach before ultimately parlaying his way into the role of defensive coordinator. When head coach Mike Leach was fired in late December, McNeill was named interim head coach, guiding the Red Raiders to a win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. To that point, it was his lone game as a head coach. Before Texas Tech, McNeill made coaching stops at Fresno State, UNLV, Appalachian State, ECU, North Alabama, Austin Peay and Clemson. The new coach said he plans to quickly piece together the remainder of his staff over the coming days. The moment the wheels hit the tarmac, both of our hearts just said, We re home, McNeill said of the moment he and his wife landed in Raleigh to begin the interviewing process with ECU. That was very cool.

12 MCNEILL HAPPY TO HAVE HIS DREAM JOB Charlotte Observer Staff Reports January 22, 2010 GREENVILLE Ruffin McNeill made his future intentions clear in the first minute of his introductory press conference as East Carolina's new football coach. After 24 seasons as a college assistant, the previous 10 at Texas Tech, he called his first head coaching job, and the return to his alma mater, his "destination" job. "This is a dream come true for an East Carolina country boy," McNeill said. "This is where I want to be until they tote me away from here." The 51-year-old Lumberton native received a five-year, $5 million contract to be ECU's 20th head coach. Eight days after Skip Holtz left for South Florida, ECU found its new leader by turning back the clock. Ruffin starred at defensive back for Pat Dye in the last 1970s and returned in 1992 as an assistant coach for one season under Steve Logan, two of the winningest coaches in ECU history. He didn't just win the press conference, he mesmerized the gathered crowd of former players and boosters with his strong, deep voice and rhythmic delivery. He promised the players, current and future, he would "hug 'em up" and "love 'em up." He also acknowledged the challenge of replacing 28 seniors from a team that went 9-5 in 2008 and repeated as Conference USA champions. "We know we have work in front of us," McNeill said. "Nobody will out-work us."

13 OLD HAND RETURNS TO HOME PORT Bonesville.net Staff Reports January 22, 2010 East Carolina has turned the helm of its football ship over to former Pirate team captain Ruffin McNeill. The school concluded its search for a replacement for departed coach Skip Holtz late Thursday afternoon by hiring McNeill, an ECU defensive back from and until recently the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech. The Executive Committee of the ECU Board of Trustees approved McNeill's hiring and the general parameters of a contract in a teleconference Thursday evening and will consider contract specifics at a regular meeting next month. Terry Holland, the school's athletics director, announced that McNeill will be introduced to the media at an 11:00 a.m. press conference on Friday. 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 in a statement. 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." There is no doubt about his ability to lead ECU football to new heights and his determination to guarantee that happens under his watch, Holland added. He intends to bring new and exciting offensive schemes to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, combined with an aggressive defense that will be designed to get the ball back in the offense s hands. After the firing last month of Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, McNeill served as interim head coach and guided the Red Raiders to a victory over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in its online edition that McNeill will bring former Texas Tech receivers coach Lincoln Riley to East Carolina as offensive coordinator. Highly regarded in coaching circles as a rising star in the profession, Riley served as interim offensive coordinator in the team's bowl win over Michigan State. The Red Raiders compiled 579 yards of total offense in the game. A native of Lumberton, McNeill played for the Pirates under College Football Hall of Fame coach Pat Dye. During McNeill's playing career, East Carolina won the Southern Conference championship in 1976 and defeated Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl in He was co-captain of the Pirates during his junior and senior seasons. McNeill began his coaching career as a defensive coach at Lumberton High School from He landed his first college position at Clemson, where he served as a graduate assistant working with linebackers during the seasons. The Tigers won the Atlantic Coast Conference title in Following one-year stints at Austin Peay State and North Alabama as linebackers coach, McNeill spent three seasons at Appalachian State, where the team won the Southern Conference title in He returned to Greenville in 1992 to serve as defensive line coach on the staff of then-first year East Carolina coach Steve Logan. McNeill then returned to Appalachian State, serving as defensive coordinator from The Mountaineers won the Southern Conference championship in 1995.

14 After working as a summer intern with the Miami Dolphins in 1996, McNeill was defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at UNLV n 1997 and McNeill joined Leach's staff at Texas Tech in He served in various capacities with the Red Raiders, coaching linebackers, defensive tackles and special teams before becoming defensive coordinator in McNeill received his undergraduate degree from East Carolina in 1980 and earned a master's degree in counseling from Clemson in He and his wife, Erlene, have two daughters, Olivia (19) and Renata (29). Olivia is a sophomore at Appalachian State. McNeill becomes the 20th head coach in an East Carolina football history that dates back to 1932.

15 MCNEILL INTRODUCED AS NEW COACH AT ALMA MATER ECU Associated Press Aaron Beard January 22, 2010 GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Ruffin McNeill didn't say a word. He just walked into the room filled with reporters and fans waiting to hear from East Carolina's new coach and repeatedly pumped his right fist in the air. He was home, back at his alma mater and in his native North Carolina. "This is my destination job," McNeill said Friday. "Let's get that out front right now. This is not a stepping-stone hop for Ruff. This is where I want to be until you tow me away from here. You'll have to drag me away." The school held a news conference for McNeill, who was hired this week after Skip Holtz left to take over at South Florida after five seasons here. McNeill, 51, spent the past 10 seasons as an assistant at Texas Tech, where he served as defensive coordinator and took over as interim coach when Mike Leach was suspended then fired just before the Alamo Bowl. A formal contract hasn't been signed and won't be approved until the school's trustees meet next month. Instead, the two sides are operating under an outline for a five-year deal that could pay him $1 million per season with benchmarks for seasonticket sales, fundraising and academics. There is also a $50,000 bonus if East Carolina reaches the Conference USA title game, $100,000 if the Pirates win that game, and $50,000 if the Pirates win the bowl game following a league title. McNeill -- a Lumberton native with 24 seasons in college coaching, but none as a full-time head coach -- inherits a program that has been to four straight bowl games and has won consecutive C-USA championships, a record of success that McNeill must maintain if he plans to stick around as long as he wants. It's also a program with a unique set of challenges, from fighting for headlines in a state dominated by Atlantic Coast Conference programs like North Carolina and North Carolina State to a perennially challenging nonconference schedule. In addition, East Carolina has broken ground on an expansion to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, meaning McNeill will have to put a winning team on the field to maintain ticket demand. Not to mention hire a staff and maintain most of the program's recruiting commitments with less than two weeks left until national signing day. "This is a fun challenge," McNeill said. "There's nothing intimidating or hard about this." Athletic director Terry Holland had said he preferred to hire someone with head-coaching experience. One of his top targets was Middle Tennessee's Rick Stockstill, who announced earlier this week he was withdrawing his name from consideration due to the short time before national signing day next month. Holland said he spoke with seven candidates about the job and had four come to campus. But McNeill's experience as assistant head coach at Texas Tech was "very unique," highlighted by his leading the Red Raiders to a win against Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl just days after Leach was fired. "I realize that's one bullet, but it certainly tells you that if you can walk into that situation and stay calm, cool and collected, and move everything ahead with all those distractions, then you will be able to do it consistently," Holland said.

16 McNeill was a candidate to be Leach's permanent successor, but left after Tommy Tuberville took over in Lubbock. He has already added a former colleague to his staff, naming former Texas Tech receivers coach Lincoln Riley as his offensive coordinator. Riley was acting offensive coordinator for the Alamo Bowl. McNeill met with the players after the school announced his hiring Thursday night and said he has also spoken to all the recruits who have verbally committed to the Pirates. His next job, he said, was reaching out to the parents of the current players and assuring them he would take good care of "their most prized possession." From there, he planned to focus on recruiting, saying he would see how many flights he could catch and hotels he could stay in next week. "This is a dream come true for an East Carolina boy," McNeill said. "This is my alma mater. This was an easy sell."

17 RUFFIN MCNEILL NAMED ECU'S NEW FOOTBALL COACH Fayetteville Observer By Sammy Batten January 22, 2010 Ruffin McNeill's career as a head coach will be launched in the same place that he starred as a player. East Carolina announced Thursday evening that McNeill, a former Pirate defensive back, has been chosen to replace Skip Holtz, ending a week-long search by Athletic Director Terry Holland. Holtz left the Pirates last Thursday for a new job at South Florida after winning 38 games and back-to-back Conference USA titles in five seasons. "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 in a statement Thursday evening. "His excitement for what ECU football can become in the future was contagious and his deep and abiding appreciate for what East Carolina University meant to him and his family was truly moving. "There is no doubt about his ability to lead ECU football to new heights and his determination to guarantee that happens under his watch. He intends to bring new and exciting offensive schemes to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, combined with an aggressive defense that will be designed to get the ball back in the offense's hands.'' McNeill, 51, was the last of four candidates interviewed, following Middle Tennessee's Rick Stockstill, who turned down an offer for the job Monday, and Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and ECU offensive coordinator Steve Shankweiler. Wilson and Shankweiler were interviewed on Wednesday. As those interviews were being conducted, McNeill was flying in from Lubbock, Texas, where he served the last 10 seasons as an assistant at Texas Tech under Mike Leach. Holland conducted an interview with McNeill on Thursday and by 2 p.m. an agreement had been reached, sources said. The executive committee of ECU's Board of Trustees approved McNeill's hiring at a specially called teleconference at 5 p.m. on Thursday. The school has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. today to introduce McNeill, whose resumes includes 24 years as an assistant coach. McNeill's father, Ruffin McNeill Sr., still resides in Lumberton. McNeill Sr. was a high school football star at E.E. Smith High School, and was a teacher and coach in the Robeson County system for many years. "He's worked hard,'' McNeill Sr. said. "I'm so proud of what he's doing and what he's going to do (at ECU). I know his mother would be so happy, too.'' McNeill's mother, Bonnie, passed away in August 2007 at the age of 79. Houston Texans fullback Vonta Leach is an ECU grad and fellow Robeson County native. Leach, who lives in Rowland during the offseason, was pleased to hear McNeill was getting the chance to become a head coach. "I'm happy for him,'' Leach said. "He's a local guy and he's got my full support.'' A 1976 graduate of Lumberton High School, McNeill lettered four seasons under Pat Dye at ECU between He was a starter for three of those years and was twice the Pirates team captain.

18 McNeill would begin his coaching career back at Lumberton High School where he worked as a defensive assistant from His college career includes stints at Clemson, Austin Peay, North Alabama, Appalachian State, ECU, UNLV, Fresno State and Texas Tech. While at Tech, McNeill was both assistant head coach and defensive coordinator the last 2 1/2seasons. He was elevated to interim head coach earlier this month when Mike Leach was dismissed over allegations he abused a player. The Red Raiders produced a victory over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl with McNeill at the helm.

19 LONGTIME TEXAS TECH AIDE RUFFIN MCNEILL HIRED AS EAST CAROLINA HEAD COACH Ft. Worth Star Telegram Dwain Price January 22, 2010 Former Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill became the first black head football coach at East Carolina on Thursday, and one of his former Texas Tech co-workers, Lincoln Riley, will be his offensive coordinator. McNeill, 51, returns to his alma mater after spending the past 10 years at Tech, including the past two as defensive coordinator, under coach Mike Leach, who was fired Dec. 30. ECU athletic director Terry Holland said McNeill was a hit during his interview Thursday morning. McNeill graduated from ECU in 1980 and played safety for the Pirates in "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 in a statement. Tech promoted McNeill to interim coach Dec. 28 after it suspended and later fired Leach after allegations that he mistreated backup receiver Adam James. With six days to prepare, McNeill guided Tech to a win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. McNeill was interviewed for the Tech job that eventually went to Tommy Tuberville. "As a head coach he took one of the most adverse situations in college football and wound up winning a bowl game," Riley said. "He s a great man and you can t find anybody to say a bad thing about him." McNeill replaces Skip Holtz, who left ECU last week after five seasons to become head coach at South Florida.

20 MCNEILL RETURNS TO ALMA MATER AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH Ruffin McNeill speaks following his introduction as ECU head football coach on Jan. 22. The East Carolinian January 22, 2010 GREENVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 22, 2010) Former Pirate defensive back and assistant coach Ruffin McNeill is back home at East Carolina University. McNeill, who starred as a four-year letterman in the late 1970s and most recently served on the Texas Tech staff for the last 10 seasons, was welcomed as head football coach Friday, Jan. 22, at a press conference. With his hiring, McNeill becomes ECU's 20th head football coach in the school's history. I m honored, humbled, and excited to become your next football coach, 51-year-old McNeill said donning a purple East Carolina Football hat. This is a dream come true for an East Carolina boy. This is a my alma mater. The Executive Committee of the ECU Board of Trustees, acting for the full board, approved the appointment of McNeill and the outline of his contract in a conference call meeting Jan. 21. The board will consider McNeill's contract during its regular meeting next month. "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. "There is no doubt about his ability to lead ECU football to new heights and his determination to guarantee that happens under his watch," Holland added. "He intends to bring new and exciting offensive schemes to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, combined with an aggressive defense that will be designed to get the ball back in the offense's hands." A native of Lumberton, McNeill told more than 350 people assembled at the Murphy Center Friday that the decision to return to ECU was an easy one for him and his wife, Earlene, who flew into Raleigh-Durham International Airport just days ago. At the moment the wheels hit the tarmac, both of our hearts just said, We re home, he said. McNeill emphasized that he would be committed to serving the university, asking himself daily, What can I do today to make sure I better East Carolina University? He also vowed to preserve and create academic excellence. Again, I m witness to graduating while playing football, he said. It will be done. It will be expected here. If I can do it, everyone can do it. This is a destination job for me. Let s make that very clear, he said. He added later, This is not a stepping stone. McNeill concluded his 24th overall season at the collegiate level as Texas Tech's interim head coach by rallying the No. 21 Red Raiders to a victory over Michigan State at the Valero Alamo Bowl Jan. 2 after the dismissal of Mike Leach. In addition to helping the program complete the year with nine triumphs, McNeill's steady hand was responsible for Texas Tech's first season-ending three-game winning streak since The 2009 campaign marked his 10th season as a member of Leach's staff and second full year as the defensive coordinator. He served the final nine games of 2007 in that role on an interim basis, before taking over officially in McNeill, who also coached the linebackers, was regarded as one of the most versatile coaches on the staff and also one of the most beloved by the Red Raider football team.

21 Seen as a father figure by those within the program, McNeill was credited with promoting a family-type atmosphere, while at the same time providing disciplined instruction on the field. He said Friday that he wants to assure parents that he will treat their most prized possessions as he would treat his own. That doesn t mean I m not going to push them. It doesn t mean every conversation will be a nice and friendly one, but it will be with love, expectations and demands for myself and them, he said. Regarding recruiting future Pirate football players, We re going to look for the right players to get on the bus, he said. [North Carolina] will always be our primary recruiting area. His stamp on the Red Raider defense was apparent in 2008 as the unit helped lead Texas Tech to one of the most memorable seasons in school history. The defense ranked fifth in the Big 12 Conference in total defense, fourth in scoring defense and third in pass defense. The rush defense improved from the previous season by 37 yards per game. The defense totaled 34 sacks on the season to rank among the Big 12's top three. Tech's push up the middle not only aided in the unit's ability to stop the run, but also contributed to the disruption of the some of the conference's more potent offenses. In just nine games as the defensive coordinator in 2007, McNeil helped the unit make an overnight transition that paid dividends for the program. While the Red Raiders finished third overall in the Big 12 in total defense, they finished first when factoring in only the final nine games of the season for each league institution. The secondary defended its title as the league's top pass defense, while numbers in other areas also improved dramatically. The Texas Tech defensive unit has steadily improved each of the last four seasons - no season more evident than Led by the men up front to the guys in the back, the Red Raiders' defense assisted in Tech's 26 sacks to its 10 interceptions. A charter member of Leach's initial coaching staff in 2000, McNeill began his career at Texas Tech as linebackers coach during the seasons, before taking over defensive tackles and special teams duties in McNeill began his coaching career as a defensive coach at Lumberton (N.C.) High School from , before taking his first collegiate position as a graduate assistant coaching linebackers at Clemson during the seasons. The Tigers won the Atlantic Coast Conference title in 1986 and advanced to the Gator Bowl, a year after appearing in the Independence Bowl. Following one-year stints at Austin Peay State and North Alabama as linebackers coach, McNeill spent three seasons on the mountain at Appalachian State, where the team won the Southern Conference title in In his first tour of duty at ASU, the school appeared in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs each season. He returned to the Boone, program after a year as defensive line coach at his alma mater, East Carolina, in As defensive coordinator at Appalachian State from , the team won the 1995 Southern Conference title and competed in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs at the conclusion of the regular seasons. McNeill tapped the professional ranks for experience, working as a summer intern with the Miami Dolphins in From there he went to UNLV in 1997 and 1998 as defensive coordinator both seasons and assistant head coach in A four-year letter winner at East Carolina from , McNeill was a three-year starter at defensive back and was the team captain for two seasons. He helped lead ECU to the Southern Conference Championship in 1976 and an Independence Bowl berth in the school's first in what is recognized as the modern era. He graduated from East Carolina in 1980 and received a master's degree in counseling from Clemson in McNeill and his wife, Erlene, have two daughters, Renata and Olivia, who is a sophomore at Appalachian State. McNeill directly succeeds Skip Holtz, who accepted the top football coaching position at South Florida Jan. 14.

22 HOLLAND, STAFF DRAINED' AFTER COACHING SEARCH Hiring of McNeill ends intense week Sun-Journal David Hall January 23, 2010 GREENVILLE The search for Skip Holtz s replacement at East Carolina didn t last a month. It only seemed that way to the university administrators charged with finding a football coach at a time of year when most coaches aren t looking. The sudden departure of Holtz, who left ECU after five seasons for South Florida on Jan. 14, forced athletics director Terry Holland and his staff to spend the following days six of them, in reality fully engaged in a frantic search that was both exhaustive and exhausting. By the time Holland, who hired Holtz in 2005, was set to introduce former Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill as the Pirates next coach at a Friday media event with fans in attendance, he said he was too spent to do it. I m that emotional about it, said Holland, who instead had his wife, Ann, do the honors. My emotional tank s pretty drained right now. The same could be said for the rest of the administrators involved in the search. A panel consisting of Holland and associate ADs Jimmy Bass, Nick Floyd and Lee Workman formed the core of the interview team, which was assisted by other university officials during in-person meetings. Floyd said chancellor Steve Ballard, academic coordinator and former ECU player Carlester Crumpler, senior women s administrator Rosie Thompson Smaw, faculty representative David Dosser and university Board of Trustees member Bob Lucas all had a direct hand in the interviews. It s a very intensive process, Floyd said. A lot of long hours and early mornings and late nights. We re kind of glad that both basketball teams are out of town this weekend so we can catch our breath a little bit. But it s been well worth it. McNeill, who played defensive back at ECU from , has 24 years of college coaching experience but none as a fulltime head coach. He served as interim head coach in Texas Tech s win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2 after the highly publicized suspension and subsequent firing of Mike Leach for alleged abuse of a player. During the search that led McNeill back to his alma mater, a slew of names from throughout the coaching profession were linked to the ECU job. Floyd said the panel, by design, stayed largely immune to the inevitable rumors. You try not to pay a whole lot of attention to what s being thrown around in the public because you really don t want that to alter your thinking, either consciously or subconsciously, he said, adding that McNeill s effective interview brought an abrupt end to both the search and the rumors. You want to stay focused on what you know you have to accomplish. A native of Lumberton, McNeill called his new post a destination job and said he d have to be torn away from it. Asked how his coaching style might compare to Holtz s occasionally stated desire to win games 2-0, McNeill was diplomatic. I m not worried about how, but just how many, he said.

23 The way McNeill handled himself after taking over the Red Raiders during a scrutinized bowl week, Holland said, went a long way toward showing his long-term potential. An impressive resume, an engaging, sincere manner and an open-ended commitment to ECU sealed the deal. He s not going to leave here as long as things are going well, Holland said. He s going to stay right here with us. We can win 12 games a year; he s still going to be here. The search, Holland hopes, is over for a while.

24 MCNEILL MUST BUCK COACHING TREND News and Observer Caulton Tudor January 23, 2010 On one side - the side ECU's new football coach Ruffin McNeill hopes to avoid - lies a regional coaches graveyard. Among the footprints there are those of John Thompson and Ed Emory from the program for which NcNeill played and now directs. But Thompson and Emory have plenty of company. From Duke: Barry Wilson, Carl Franks and Ted Roof. From N.C. State: Al Michaels, Monte Kiffin and Chuck Amato. From UNC: Carl Torbush and John Bunting. From Wake Forest: Bill Tate, John Mackovic and Al Groh. The common denominator in that group is a deep, extensive background in coaching defense. McNeill is a career-long defensive coach, most recently at Texas Tech. On the opposite side are offensive majors Skip Holtz, Steve Logan, Pat Dye, Steve Spurrier, Lou Holtz, Bo Rein, Dick Sheridan, Bill Dooley and Mack Brown. While it defies scientific rationale, defensive coaches usually struggle much more and longer than their offensive counterparts after taking over programs. There are ample exceptions, of course. Oklahoma's Bob Stoops is one. Ohio State's Jim Tressel and Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer are two others. Defensive coaches are fond of saying, "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins games." Those words may carry a lot of truth, but that adage also dates to the 1950s and '60s, when a three-touchdown day was deemed an offensive explosion. Torbush's 2000 team at UNC held its final four opponents to an average of 16 points and won three of those games to finish the season 6-5. He was fired the day the schedule ended. McNeill faces the task of constructing an offense capable of keeping pace in the frantic Conference USA. And at the moment, there are only two quarterbacks in school - freshmen Rio Johnson and Josh Jordan, both of whom have almost no experience. Former Boston College starter Dominique Davis is in Greenville and has plans to enroll in school in time to compete for the 2010 starting job. A 6-foot-4, 200-pounder, he completed 45 percent of his passes for 741 yards and six touchdowns in 2008 for the Eagles with Logan as his quarterback coach. The Pirates defense that McNeill no doubt will closely monitor must be rebuilt extensively. Program fixtures C.J. Wilson, Scotty Robinson, Linval Joseph, Nick Johnson, Levin Neal and Van Eskridge must be replaced. With such heavy personnel losses, expectations for McNeill's first season should be reasonable, at the least.

25 With a non-league schedule that includes trips to North Carolina (Oct. 2) and Virginia Tech (Sept. 18) and visits from N.C. State (Nov. 20) and Navy (Nov. 6) as well as conference road games at Southern Miss and Central Florida, the Pirates will be pushed. A 6-6 overall record would have to qualify as an accomplishment. Eventually, ECU and McNeill will need to do better than.500 to maintain the momentum from the Skip Holtz era. The Pirates gambled on a defensive specialist with one game of head coaching experience. Maybe McNeill is the right guy to beat the trend.

26 MCNEILL INTRODUCED AS ECU S NEXT HEAD COACH Lincoln Riley named offensive coordinator Washington Daily News By Brian Haines January 23, 2010 GREENVILLE Ruffin McNeill walked into the Harvey Hall and gave a fist pump, flashing signs of the much-hyped enthusiasm and dedication to East Carolina University that helped him wow athletic director Terry Holland during the process of hiring the Pirates 20th head coach in the program s history. McNeill, who sported No. 44 while he was a defensive back as a player for ECU from , did his best to charm a hall packed with media, East Carolina administrators and Pirates supporters during his introductory press conference Friday. The 51-year old McNeill, who is a native of North Carolina and spent the last 10 years working on Mike Leach s staff at Texas Tech, said that he was happy to be home. I am honored, humbled, excited to become your next football coach, McNeill said. It s a dream come true for an East Carolina boy. This is my alma-matter; it was an easy sell. One thing McNeill made clear on Friday was that he does not view this job as a stepping stone to greener pastures. To McNeill, the grass at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium will always be the greenest. This is my destination job; let s get that out in front right now, McNeill said. This is not another stop on the road; this is where I want to be. Holland, who estimated he interviewed seven or eight candidates either in person or via phone, said what gave McNeill an edge over the other candidates was his ability to bond with whoever he talks to. The contact that he made with each individual in that room (during his interview), there was no question not only about what he was saying, but his belief in it and his desire to communicate that to you, Holland said. When he makes that kind of connection you have to listen. The decision to hire McNeill came a week after Skip Holtz announced he was leaving East Carolina for USF, and only a few days after Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill declined the Pirates offer to take over the program. Holland said that Holtz s mid-january departure added to the stress of trying to find his successor. That was part of it, let s face it, Holland said. We wanted to move as fast as we could. A week-long search is fairly short anyway, but given this time frame it s very unusual to do a coaching search this time of year. We were under the gun a bit and felt the pressure at times, but right now the good Lord has a plan. McNeill has been reportedly offered a five-year deal worth a base salary of roughly $400,000 a season. Another factor that influenced Holland s decision was the way McNeill led Texas Tech to a victory over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl as an interim coach in the midst of the Mike Leach saga. What he did in the Alamo Bowl, I mean, I realize that it s just one bullet, but it really tells you that if you can walk into that kind of situation and stay calm, cool and collected and move everything ahead with all those distractions, you will be able to do it consistently, Holland said.