Episode Details

Ruffin McNeill, one of the most well-liked and respected people in college football, joined the NC State staff in July of 2020 and serves as the special assistant to the head coach. Head coach Dave Doeren has known McNeill, who boasts four decades of coaching experience, for more than 20 years and their professional paths have crossed several times. When Doeren was a graduate assistant at USC in 1999, McNeill was the defensive line coach at nearby Fresno State. The two coached in the Big 12 together from 2002-05 - Doeren at Kansas and McNeill at Texas Tech - and for Doeren's first three years at NC State, McNeill was the head coach at East Carolina. "I've known Ruffin since the beginning of my coaching career," Doeren said. "Not only is he one of my closest friends in the profession, but he's been a mentor to me since I was 24 years old. We've crossed paths on the recruiting trail many times over the past 22 years and have been friends and competitors. Having a former head coach on our staff who I can trust and have known for almost my entire career is a huge benefit for me personally, as well as for our entire program. "As a North Carolina native and a former coach at Appalachian State and ECU, Ruffin has great relationships and ties across our state. I am looking forward to working with him and want to welcome him and his wife Erlene to the Wolfpack family." In his role with the Wolfpack, McNeill will serve as an advisor to Doeren and will contribute to and lead special projects. He will be a source of outreach for Wolfpack football to campus, alumni, and community groups on behalf of the program. He will also help provide player development analysis. "Dave and I have been very good friends and colleagues and I've followed his career over the past 20 years," said McNeill. "I have the highest respect for him as a coach and cherish our long friendship. Erlene and I are happy to be back in North Carolina and very appreciative of the opportunity.