- Ruffin McNeill
College coach infobox
Name = Ruffin McNeill
ImageWidth = 170px
Caption = Ruffin McNeill
Title =Defensive Coordinator
College = Texas Tech
Sport = Football
Conference = Big 12
CurrentRecord =
DateOfBirth =October 9 ,1958
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Contract = $290,000 [cite news|url=http://newsok.com/big-12-assistant-coaches-pay-by-job/article/3272560/?mp=0|title=Big 12 assistant coaches' pay by job]
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Player = Y
Years = 1976-1980
Team = East Carolina
Position =Defensive back
Coach = Y
CoachYears = 1985-1986
1987
1988
1989-1991
1992
1993-1996
1998
1999
2000-2002
2003-2008
2008-"present"
CoachTeams = Clemson (LC)
Austin Peay (LC)
North Alabama (LC)
Appalachian State (LC)
East Carolina (DL)
Appalachian State (DC)
UNLV (Assist.)
Fresno State (DL)
Texas Tech (LC)
Texas Tech (Assist.)
Texas Tech (DC)
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BBallHOF =Ruffin McNeill (born
October 9 ,1958 ) is the currentdefensive coordinator for theTexas Tech Red Raiders football team. Before being promoted to defensive coordinator, McNeill served the Red Raiders as an assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and linebackers coach.Playing career
McNeill was a
defensive back for the East Carolina Pirates for four years, three of which he was a starter and two he served as team captain. In his first year with the Pirates, McNeill helped East Carolina to the 1976Southern Conference Championship and a berth to theIndependence Bowl two years later.McNeill graduated from East Carolina University in 1980. [http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mcneill_ruffin00.html Player Bio: Ruffin McNeill] ] He later went on to Clemson where he earned a master's degree in counseling.Citation|last=Hubbard|first=Sharisse|title=Coaches Corner: A Closer Look at Who is Leading the Red Raiders this Year|newspaper=Red Raider Sports|pages=8|year=2007|date=August / September 2008]
Coaching career
In addition to coaching at the high school level and spending a summer as an intern with the
Miami Dolphins under Jimmy Johnson, McNeill has coached 23 seasons at the college level. He has been on the coaching staffs at Clemson, Austin Peay State, East Carolina, North Alabama, Appalachian State, UNLV, Fresno State, and Texas Tech.Texas Tech
McNeill began his tenure at Texas Tech in 2000 as a linebackers coach. In 2003, he accepted the role of assistant head coach as well as taking duties of linebackers coach. In 2007, then-defensive coordinator
Lyle Setencich stepped down due to "personal reasons" [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3033530 Texas Tech defensive coordinator Setencich steps down] ] after a 49–45 loss to Oklahoma State in which the Texas Tech defense allowed over 600 yards of total offense and three 100 yard rushers. [http://texastech.scout.com/2/722725.html Ruffin McNeill named Defensive Coordinator] ] Head coachMike Leach named McNeill interim defensive coordinator shortly after with eight games remaining in the season.Defensive improvements
With McNeill at the defensive helm, the Red Raiders' defense improved in every defensive category. Under Setencich, Tech ranked seventh in pass defense, ninth in total defense, and tenth in scoring defense in Big 12 play. In nine games with McNeill, Tech improved to first in pass and total defense and fourth in scoring defense. [cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/062008dnspobrown.427be3a.html|title=Tech's 'pirate' may have strong wind in his sails in 2008|accessdate=2008-06-20|publisher=
Dallas Morning News |author=Chip Brown] Texas Tech forced more punts and allowed fewer rushing and passing yards than they did to begin the season. [http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2008/01/24/Sports/Ruffin.Mcneill.Improved.Tech.Defense.Rewarded.With.DCoordinator.Position-3164687.shtml Ruffin McNeill improved Tech defense, rewarded with D-coordinator position] ] These vast improvements in the defense lead Leach to drop the interim tag and make McNeill the full-time defensive coordinator.ee also
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2007 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
*2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team References
External links
* [http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mcneill_ruffin00.html McNeill's profile at Texas Tech athletics]
* [http://www.texastech.com Texas Tech Red athletics home]
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