Longtime Monroe College Mustangs junior varsity men’s basketball head coach has been named the new head coach for the Monroe College Express men’s basketball program. Neely spent eight years building the Mustangs’ JV program from scratch.
“I am excited for the opportunity to help the Bronx campus and the Express program continue to grow,” said Neely. “Just three years in, there is still plenty of room for growth in this program, and I am very thankful that the administration in both the Mustangs and Express athletic departments trust and believe in me to take this program to the next level.”
Neely’s eight seasons at the helm of the Mustangs’ junior varsity program were an outstanding success. He recruited and coached teams that were highly competitive, not only against junior varsity and prep programs, but also against NJCAA opponents both within and outside of Region XV. Neely also helped establish the American Independent Post Grad and Collegiate Conference (AIPGCC), a competitive athletic conference for junior varsity and preparatory schools in Lower New York and Upper New Jersey, for which he served as its commissioner.
“We are very excited to have Chris join the Monroe Express and lead the men’s basketball program,” said Director of Athletics Allaire Primiano. “Chris has demonstrated a great amount of success with the Mustangs, both on and off the court, and we look forward to Chris being an outstanding leader to our student-athletes, while we continue to build on the foundation of the Monroe Express basketball program.”
Neely was named the AIPGCC Coach of the Year for both 2019 and 2020. More than 30 alumni of the Mustangs JV program have moved on to junior college and four-year varsity programs throughout Neely’s tenure, including a number of student-athletes that made the jump from the Mustangs’ JV team to the varsity team, as well as three student-athletes that went on to play for the Monroe Express. Neely also played a large role in recruiting and development for the Mustangs men’s basketball program and helped guide the Mustangs to District Championships and appearances at the NJCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Championship tournament in 2015 and 2017.
“I appreciate the support from both Luis Melendez and Allaire Primiano and their commitment to the growth of athletics on both of Monroe’s campuses,” said Neely. “This is a clear indication that hard work pays off, not only for our student-athletes, but for the staff as well.”
Neely takes over the Express men’s basketball program coming off back-to-back Region XV Championship Tournament appearances in just its second and third years of existence. During Neely’s time as the Mustangs JV coach, his teams had the opportunity to challenge numerous Region XV programs, giving him some familiarity with his future in-region opponents.
“I’m excited to compete in Region XV, where every season, numerous teams earn national rankings and compete for the NJCAA Championship,” said Neely. “I hope to establish a tradition and culture similar to what we started in New Rochelle, and showcase it on a grander stage.”
Neely specializes in developing fundamentals and techniques, which have been key in his time at Monroe and in his experiences prior to landing in New Rochelle. Through these programs, he has helped send countless athletes on to NCAA Division I programs. Neely had most recently worked with the Riverbank Runnin’ Rebels before coming to Monroe. He was involved with the Long Island Lightning (EYBL) before Riverbank, and also worked with programs such as Hoop Group Elite, Crusaders Basketball Program and St. Charles Borromeo. Neely has also committed his time to numerous college camps and clinics.
Neely is the second coach in Monroe Express history to make the move from a Monroe Mustangs JV program to an Express varsity program. Head baseball coach John Torres began his tenure at Monroe as the Mustangs JV baseball coach before taking over the Monroe Express baseball program in 2019.
Coach Neely is also a high school teacher at Archdiocese of New York. He earned his bachelor of arts in liberal arts from the College of New Rochelle. Neely is also pursuing his master’s in coaching and athletic administration.
Chris Neely Tabbed as Monroe Express Men’s Basketball Head Coach after Eight Years with Mustangs JV Team
