Colin Neely enters his third year on staff as an assistant football coach. Neely will assume the role of defensive coordinator for the Hawks.
In 2021, the Hawks limited opponents to the lowest scoring in program history of 22.6 points per game, nearly 20 points less per game than in 2019. The Hawks posted the most sacks in program history with 39.0 (second in Division II), lowest rushing yards allowed (993), yards per attempt allowed (2.97), rushing touchdowns allowed (12), passing yards allowed (1828), passing yards per game (182.8), opponent total offense (2821) and opponent total offense per game (282.1). Chowan ranked fifth in the country in tackles for loss per game (8.9).
Neely helped Rafiq Abdul-Wahid earn CIAA First Team honors along with Isaac Anderson collect CIAA Defensive Rookie of the Year and Second Team honors. Gilberto Ortiz would be selected on the Second Team, while J’Vin Farmer was named to the Defensive All-Rookie Team.
Neely comes to Chowan after spending four seasons with the Fighting Scots of Edinboro in the same role. Neely was elevated to assistant head coach during the 2019 season and also served as the team’s academic coordinator.
During his time with the Fighting Scots, Neely’s vision allowed the defense to make wholesale changes statistically dropping their points per game average from 31.9 in 2016 to 25.2, and dropped their yards per game figure by 60 yards. In 2018, Edinboro’s defense led Division II in tackles for loss per game (10.6) and was 21st nationally in sacks per game (3.0). The 2017 season was similar ranking seventh in DII in interceptions (20), 10th in takeaways (30), 19th in total tackles for loss (91), and 19th in red zone defense (31%).
Neely helped coach All-American, Victor Hudson, in 2016 as the Edinboro defense led the PSAC and ranked fourth in DII in tackles for loss, and sixth nationally in sacks per game. Neely also helped coach several All-PSAC West honorees and Don Hansen All-American.
Prior to Edinboro, Neely served as the defensive line coach at East Stroudsburg for two seasons. During his stint with the Warriors, Neely coached three All-PSAC East performers including their first All-PSAC East First teamer since 2001. Neely served as a volunteer coach in the spring of 2014.
The Bethlehem, Pa. native was a three-year standout for Michigan State starting 27 games while earning a spot on Phil Steele’s All-Big Ten Third Team. During his career with the Spartans, Neely racked up 75 tackles, 19.5 TFLs, and 6.0 sacks in 39 games. In 2009, he was named MSU’s Tommy Love Award recipient as the team’s most improved player.
As a student-athlete at MSU, Neely gave back to the community working as a mental health technician at KidsPeace in Schnecksville for three years, mentoring and monitoring troubled teenaged males. He also was the head coach and defensive coordinator of the KidsPeace football team.
Neely graduated from Michigan State in 2012 with a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. Neely is married to Kendra with two sons, J’Shawn and Cameron (CJ).
