Football
Emanuel McNeil
- Title:
- Player Development
- Email:
- emcneil2@utm.edu
Emanuel “Big Mac” McNeil enters his first season as the director of player development at UT Martin.
Before UT Martin, McNeil previous served as a defensive line coach at Virginia Union University from 2009-10. Prior to that, he served as a defensive line coach at Virginia State University from 2004-08 after a previous stop in 1999. He coaching career began at his high school alma mater where he coached from 1992-97 and again from 2000-03.
McNeil played on the defensive line from 1985-88 for head coaches Fred Pickard and Don McLeary. A 1995 inductee into the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame, McNeil ranks as one of the top defensive players in program history. Among his many accolades he was named the 1988 Football Gazette National Defensive Player of the Year along with 1988 Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year while ranking as a Harlon Hill Award finalist. A two-time All-GSC first team honoree, he later was named to the GSC All-Quarter Century Team for the years from 1971-1995 along with to the GSC 1980 All-Decade Team.
He led the team in sacks for three straight years and in total tackles his junior and senior seasons. He was named regional player of the week six times in his career, GSC player of the week twice and national player of the week once during his tenure. His teammates elected him as a captain both his junior and senior year. Among his individual honors, he helped lead the 1988 Pacers to the Gulf South Conference championship along with a trip to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals.
After his illustrious collegiate career, McNeil was selected in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He also played with the New York Jets and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League before retiring in 1992.
A native of Richmond, Va., McNeil prepped at Highland Spring High School.
As a philanthropist, McNeil also founded the Moriah McNeil Memorial Celebrity Golf Classic in 2004 in memory of his late daughter Moriah which passed away from pediatric cancer. The charity helped raise awareness for pediatric cancer while celebrities visit the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU to mentor and fellowship with sick children and their families. The charity later developed the Moriah and Carlos McNeil Memorial Scholarship for local youth.
McNeil graduated with a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin in 1999. He has three children, Robert, Marcus and Moriah.
Before UT Martin, McNeil previous served as a defensive line coach at Virginia Union University from 2009-10. Prior to that, he served as a defensive line coach at Virginia State University from 2004-08 after a previous stop in 1999. He coaching career began at his high school alma mater where he coached from 1992-97 and again from 2000-03.
McNeil played on the defensive line from 1985-88 for head coaches Fred Pickard and Don McLeary. A 1995 inductee into the UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame, McNeil ranks as one of the top defensive players in program history. Among his many accolades he was named the 1988 Football Gazette National Defensive Player of the Year along with 1988 Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year while ranking as a Harlon Hill Award finalist. A two-time All-GSC first team honoree, he later was named to the GSC All-Quarter Century Team for the years from 1971-1995 along with to the GSC 1980 All-Decade Team.
He led the team in sacks for three straight years and in total tackles his junior and senior seasons. He was named regional player of the week six times in his career, GSC player of the week twice and national player of the week once during his tenure. His teammates elected him as a captain both his junior and senior year. Among his individual honors, he helped lead the 1988 Pacers to the Gulf South Conference championship along with a trip to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals.
After his illustrious collegiate career, McNeil was selected in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He also played with the New York Jets and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League before retiring in 1992.
A native of Richmond, Va., McNeil prepped at Highland Spring High School.
As a philanthropist, McNeil also founded the Moriah McNeil Memorial Celebrity Golf Classic in 2004 in memory of his late daughter Moriah which passed away from pediatric cancer. The charity helped raise awareness for pediatric cancer while celebrities visit the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU to mentor and fellowship with sick children and their families. The charity later developed the Moriah and Carlos McNeil Memorial Scholarship for local youth.
McNeil graduated with a bachelor’s degree from UT Martin in 1999. He has three children, Robert, Marcus and Moriah.
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