Ruffin McNeill out as East Carolina head coach
East Carolina University has parted ways with head football coach Ruffin McNeill, the school announced Friday.
“After deliberate evaluation, the decision has been made to move our football program in a different direction with new leadership,” said East Carolina’s athletic director Jeff Compher. “We are appreciative of the hard work, dedication and contributions Coach McNeill and his staff have made to both East Carolina University and our community.“
McNeill had been with the Pirates since 2010, posting a 42–34 record in six seasons with the program. ECU is 8–8 in two seasons in the American Athletic Conference.
In McNeill’s time at ECU, the Pirates have made four bowl appearances. In 2013, the team won 10 games.
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Before his tenure at ECU, McNeill spent ten seasons coaching under Mike Leach at Texas Tech, two of which he spent as the team’s defensive coordinator. He served as the Red Raiders’ interim head coach for one game when Leach was fired at the end of the 2009 season.
“Our expectations are to compete for championships,” Compher said. “Our goal will be to move expediently in the search process, and based on the outstanding support of our Pirate fan base and enhanced visibility in the American Athletic Conference, I am confident our candidate pool will be deep.”
ECU went 5–7 this season and did not qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2011.
