By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
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 1976-80, 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 41-31 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.
McNeill served as Leach’s defensive coordinator the last two seasons, and said he hopes to have his staff in place as soon as possible.
One piece of the puzzle that is already in place is on the offensive side of the ball, where McNeill named third-year Texas Tech wide receivers coach Lincoln Riley as the offensive coordinator.
“Right now the staff is a work in progress. Lincoln Riley, who called the game at the Alamo Bowl … will be our offensive coordinator,” McNeill said. “The rest of the staff, I am in the process of contacting and making sure everything is right. My job is to not only make sure we get the right kids on the bus, but to make sure we have the right coaches driving that bus.”
The arrival of Riley could mean the end of fifth-year offensive coordinator Steve Shankweiler’s tenure with East Carolina.
Holland said that McNeill has targeted a person for the defensive coordinator job, but did not reveal the name of the candidate.
“I think he has zeroed in on who he wants,” Holland said. “The question is just can that individual make himself available. A lot of times you have to respect the job that they are doing now. Other schools have recruiting needs and they need their recruiters on the road.”
McNeill said he addressed the team Thursday night and said he will stress academics and conduct as much as football.
“I asked all the players to at all times be professional, on the field and off the field … And I didn’t really ask them, it was more of a demand,” McNeill joked.
McNeill also made a statement to the parents of the players and future Pirates saying, “I promise the parents of our current players, recruits and future recruits, I promise to take care of your most prized possession. I know how special that possession is.”