UNCP Athletics

Having already turned in a bevy of success in previous stops at three other collegiate institutions, Colin Neely begins his 11th season as a collegiate coach in 2025-26, as well as his sixth year alongside head coach Mark Hall, as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for the Braves. Neely joined the coaching staff at UNC Pembroke in December 2022.

Neely ventured to Pembroke after serving as the defensive coordinator at Chowan from 2020-22. He has previous coaching stops at both Edinboro and East Stroudsburg.

Neely made an instant impact in his first season for the UNCP defense, taking a unit that finished the 2022 season 94th, nationally, in passing yards allowed (213.6 ypg) to 36th, nationally, in 2023 (179.6 ypg). The Braves also finished 13th in team passing efficiency defense. Neely also played an integral role in cutting the scoring defense by 10 points per game (28.9 ppg to 18.9 ppg), as well as helping lead a unit that led Division II in tackles for loss per game (10.9).

The 2024 season brought more success, as the UNCP defense ranked inside the top ten, nationally, in three categories. The unit finished second in defensive touchdowns (six) and fumble recoveries (13), and fourth in takeaways (28). The Black & Gold also ranked 11th in sacks per game (2.91), and 16th in tackles for loss per game (7.8) and total interceptions (15).

Neely played a pivotal role in the success of the Hawks from 2020-22, transforming a defense that surrendered nearly 450 yards per game in 2019 into an intimidating presence. Under Neely’s watch, Chowan showcased a pair of nationally-ranked defensive units, including the nation’s 21st-ranked total defense (284.2 yards/game allowed) amid a 7-win season in 2021 – the most victories for the program in 39 years. The Hawks also concluded that campaign boasting NCAA Division II’s second-best sacks per game total (3.9), while also amassing 8.9 tackles for loss per game (5th NCAA) as well.

Chowan’s defense picked up where it left off to fuel another 7-win campaign and CIAA North Division title in 2022, ranking as the nation’s 37th-best total defense, while also pocketing 9.2 tackles for loss (3rd NCAA) and 3.6 sacks (6th NCAA) an outing. The Hawks also carried NCAA Division II’s 10th-best red zone defense and amassed 23 takeaways across 11 games.

A winless squad in 2015, Neely’s defense set the table for a 9-game turnaround for Edinboro in 2016, and then paved the way for winning campaigns in each of his next two seasons in northwest Pennsylvania. The Fighting Scots forced 110 turnovers from 2016-19 (71 interceptions) and ranked among NCAA Division II’s top-30 teams in tackles for loss per game each year, including a nation’s best 10.6 stops behind the line per game in 2018. Edinboro also boasted the country’s 19th-best red zone defense that year as well.

Following a brief stint as a volunteer coach at East Stroudsburg during the 2014 spring campaign, Neely was elevated into a full-time role as the defensive line coach for the Warriors in time for the fall season. The Warriors turned in NCAA Division II’s 15th-best sacks per game (3.00) average in 2014, and forced 25 turnovers in 2015, including a dozen fumbles.

Neely’s eight seasons on the sidelines have produced 22 all-conference selections, including eight all-conference nods in just two seasons at Chowan. That list includes a trio of all-region honors, as well as an all-American laurel. Edinboro’s Victor Hudson earned national honors in 2016 after ranking among the nation’s top-10 leaders in both sacks (1.1) and tackles for loss (2.2) per game.

A native of Bethlehem, Pa., Neely played in 39 games (27 starts) at defensive end for Michigan State from 2008-10 and logged 75 career tackles, including 19-1/2 tackles for loss and six sacks. An All-Big 10 selection by Phil Steele as a senior, he was named MSU’s Tommy Love Award recipient as the team’s most improved player following a junior campaign in which he played in all 13 games and made 12 starts. He helped lead the Spartans to 26 wins and a trio of bowl appearances, including an 11-win campaign as a senior that culminated with a Citrus Bowl showdown against Alabama.

As a student-athlete, Neely was heavily involved in philanthropy, working as a mental health technician at KidsPeace in Schnecksville for three years where he mentored and monitored troubled teenaged males. He also served as head coach and defensive coordinator of the KidsPeace football team.

Neely earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Michigan State in 2012. He married the former Kendra Easterling in May 2016, and the couple has two sons, J’Shawn and Cameron.