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Colin Neely

Colin Neely

  • Title
    Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line/Academic Coordinator
  • Email
    cneely@edinboro.edu
  • Phone
    814-732-1843
Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line/Academic Coordinator
4th Year
Michigan State ‘12

Colin Neely is in his fourth season as a member of the Edinboro staff after joining the coaching staff in March of 2016.  He took over as the defensive coordinator in 2017 and will work with the defensive line for the fourth straight season. Neely was elevated to assistant head coach this year, and also serves as the team’s academic coordinator.
 
Neely has made a huge impact in his first three seasons. In 2016, he helped develop Victor Hudson into an All-American. The senior was moved from linebacker to defensive end, and set an Edinboro record with 24 tackles for losses, along with 11.5 sacks.  Hudson was named an Associated Press Little All-American, selected to the third team, after finishing first in the PSAC and fourth nationally in tackles for losses, and second and tenth, respectively, in sacks.
 
With Hudson leading the way, the Edinboro defense led the PSAC and ranked fourth in Division II in tackles for losses, while standing second in the conference and sixth nationally in sacks per game.
 
Two years ago, the Fighting Scots made some large strides statistically. The defense ranked seventh in Division II in interceptions (20), 10th in takeaways (30), and 19th in tackles for loss (91). The team also ranked 19th in red zone defense (31 pct.).
 
The Fighting Scots reduced their points per game allowed from 31.9 ppg. in 2016 to 25.2 ppg. in 2017. After allowing 437 ypg. in 2016, a year ago that figure dropped by 60 yards to 377. Finally, Edinboro allowed 231 ypg. through the air in 2017 after giving up 294 per game the year before. Neely’s work helped defensive tackle Derek Dorr earn second team All-PSAC West honors.
 
In 2018, the defense again excelled, with Dorr leading the way. Edinboro led Division II in tackles for losses (10.6) along with ranking third in the PSAC and 21st nationally in sacks (3.0). In addition, the Fighting Scots ranked first in the PSAC and fifth in Division II in interceptions (19), and were first and fourth, respectively, in turnovers gained (31).  Dorr, meanwhile, moved up to a first team All-PSAC West selection while enjoying a career year. He earned second team Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American honors, as did cornerback Zuril Hendrick. Strong safety Brandon Anderson was an honorable mention Don Hansen Football Gazette All-American.

Neely was no stranger to the PSAC after serving as the defensive line coach at East Stroudsburg the previous two years to joining Edinboro. In those two seasons, he coached three All-PSAC East performers.   In his first season at ESU in 2014, Neely coach a pair of first team All-PSAC East defensive linemen in end Brandon Gattelli and tackle Bryan Thomson. They were the first ESU defensive linemen since 2001 to earn first team All-PSAC East honors in the same season. In 2015, Ahmad McFarland earned second team accolades.
 
Neely was a three-year letterwinner at defensive end at Michigan State during his collegiate career. A native of Bethlehem, Pa. and 2006 graduate of Freedom High School, he served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Warriors in the spring of 2014.

He graduated from Michigan State in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. He worked as a mental health technician at KidsPeace in Schnecksville from June 2011 through July 2014, mentoring and monitoring troubled teenaged males. He was also the head coach and defensive coordinator of the KidsPeace football team.

Collegiately, Neely was a standout defensive end for the Spartans, starting 27 games from 2008 to 2010 and earning a spot on Phil Steele’s All-Big Ten third team as a senior.

He had 75 tackles, 19.5 tackles for a loss and 6 sacks for the Spartans in 39 games. As a junior in 2009, he was named MSU’s Tommy Love Award recipient as the team’s most improved player, when he played in all 13 games and made 12 starts. He had three starts in 2008.

12124At Freedom High School, Neely was an Associated Press third team All-State (AAAA) selection as a senior in 2005, recording 70 tackles and 8 sacks.

He was ranked among the nation’s top high school defensive ends by Scouts, Inc. (No. 24) and Collegefootballnews.com (No. 45), and was rated the nation’s No. 33 inside linebacker by Rivals.com. He was also a member of SuperPrep’s All-Northeast Team and earned All-Region honors from PrepStar, while ranking among PA’s top 50 seniors by Rivals.com (No. 29) and SuperPrep (No. 32).

Neely was married to the former Kendra Easterling in May 2016 and resides in Edinboro. He is the father of five-year-old son J’Shawn and Cameron, a son born on October 12, 2016.