Ruffin McNeill
	Position: Head Coach Birthdate: 10/09/1958 Alma Mater: East Carolina, 1980

When former Pirate defensive back and assistant coach Ruffin McNeill came home last year, the return offered a promise of renewed Purple and Gold passion.

Not to mention, plenty of points too.

McNeill, who starred as a four-year letterman in the late 1970s and recently completed a 10-year stay at Texas Tech, was appointed East Carolina's 20th head football coach January 21, 2010.

The Lumberton native delivered on those pledges during his initial campaign, which also marked his 25th overall season coaching at the collegiate level.

Despite inheriting a program which lost 34 lettermen off the previous year's squad - the most of any FBS program in America - the self-described football "lifer" guided the 2010 Pirates to six wins and qualification for a fifth-straight bowl game, an accomplishment unprecedented in program history.

While playing one of the top 50 most difficult schedules in the country, McNeill's six victories ranked seventh nationally among all first-year FBS coaches. In addition, his five league wins stood second - trailing only Florida State's Jimbo Fisher's six.

Capacity crowds at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium were also treated to an exciting, high-scoring and prolific spread offensive scheme which literally enjoyed a record-breaking campaign in 2010 - shattering or at least matching 29 team or individual standards. ECU's offense also ranked among the nation's best statistically - finishing eighth in passing offense, 16th in scoring offense, 25th in total offense, fifth in offensive redzone efficiency, sixth in fourth-down conversion percentage and 18th in first downs per game.

Although the unit featured 11 first-time starters, McNeill's offense scored 60 touchdowns (39 pass, 21 rush) - a single-season record. Overall, the Pirates tallied 62 TDs and 478 points, which also were school standards.

McNeill enhanced his reputation as a father figure by those within the East Carolina program, promoting a family-type atmosphere and providing the disciplined instruction on the field that marked his long tenure at Texas Tech.

Before returning to his alma mater, McNeill concluded the 2009 season as the Red Raiders' interim head coach by rallying No. 21 Texas Tech to a 41-31 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 1995.

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 2008. 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.

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.

McNeill's units steadily improved in each of his last four seasons in Lubbock, but no season was more evident than 2007. 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.

His leadership as special teams coordinator until 2008 took the unit to a new level. Known as the "Little Engine that Could," current New England Patriot Wes Welker set NCAA records in career punt returns, punt return yards and punt returns for touchdowns.

Placekicker Alex Trlica set NCAA records for career PATs made without a miss (233) and is Tech's all-time scoring leader for a kicker (371), ranking third on the all-time scoring list. Punter Alex Reyes set a Tech career punt average record with 43.3 yards per punt in 2006, passing former Tech and Chicago Bear great Maury Buford.

A charter member of Leach's initial coaching staff in 2000, McNeill began his career at Texas Tech as linebackers coach during the 2000-02 seasons, before taking over defensive tackles and special teams duties in 2003.

Under his tutelage, middle linebacker Lawrence Flugence rose to national prominence, setting an NCAA record with 193 tackles in 2002. A seventh-round NFL Draft pick in 2005, linebacker Mike Smith honed his skills under McNeill during his first two seasons, earning a starting nod midway through his freshman campaign. John Saldi also found success as he kicked off his career as the Defensive MVP of the Tangerine Bowl during his freshman season in 2002.

McNeill began his coaching career as a defensive coach at Lumberton (N.C.) High School from 1980-84, before taking his first collegiate position as a graduate assistant coaching linebackers at Clemson during the 1985-86 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 1991. 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 East Carolina, in 1992. As defensive coordinator at Appalachian State from 1993-96, the team won the 1995 Southern Conference title and competed in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs at the conclusion of the 1994-96 regular seasons.

McNeill tapped the professional ranks for experience, working as a summer intern with the Miami Dolphins in 1996. From there he went to UNLV in 1997 and 1998 as defensive coordinator both seasons and assistant head coach in 1998.

A four-year letterwinner at East Carolina from 1976-80, 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 1978 - the school's first in what is recognized as the modern era. He graduated from East Carolina in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in education and earned a master's degree in secondary counseling from Clemson in 1987.

McNeill, 52, and his wife, Erlene, have two daughters, Olivia (20) and Renata (30). Olivia is a senior at Appalachian State.