Ruffin McNeill
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| Ruffin McNeill | ||
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| Title | Defensive Coordinator | |
| College | Texas Tech | |
| Sport | Football | |
| Conference | Big 12 | |
| Born | October 9, 1958 | |
| Career highlights | ||
| Playing career | ||
| 1976-1980 | East Carolina | |
| Position | Defensive back | |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | ||
| 1985-1986 1987 1988 1989-1991 1992 1993-1996 1998 1999 2000-2002 2003-2008 2008-present |
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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Ruffin McNeill (born October 9, 1958) is the current defensive coordinator for the Texas 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.
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[edit] 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 1976 Southern Conference Championship and a berth to the Independence Bowl two years later.
McNeill graduated from East Carolina University in 1980.[1] He later went on to Clemson where he earned a master's degree in counseling.[2]
[edit] 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.[2]
[edit] 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"[3] 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.[4] Head coach Mike Leach named McNeill interim defensive coordinator shortly after with eight games remaining in the season.
[edit] Defensive improvements
With McNeill at the defensive helm, the Red Raiders' defense ranked first in the Big 12 in total defense and various other categories and improved in every defensive category.[4] Texas Tech forced more punts and allowed fewer rushing and passing yards than they did to begin the season.[5] These vast improvements in the defense lead Leach to drop the interim tag and make McNeill the full-time defensive coordinator.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Player Bio: Ruffin McNeill
- ^ a b Hubbard, Sharisse (August / September 2008), “Coaches Corner: A Closer Look at Who is Leading the Red Raiders this Year”, Red Raider Sports: 8
- ^ Texas Tech defensive coordinator Setencich steps down
- ^ a b Ruffin McNeill named Defensive Coordinator
- ^ a b Ruffin McNeill improved Tech defense, rewarded with D-coordinator position
[edit] External links
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