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Piedmont College Head Men’s Basketball Coach Greg Neeley has announced the hiring of Dan McNeely as the program’s new Assistant Coach beginning this fall in Demorest. McNeely replaces previous Piedmont Assistant Coach Mike Floyd who recently returned to his home region taking a position with the men’s basketball program at Hanover College.
“Dan is a great fit for Piedmont College in every aspect,” said Piedmont Head Coach Greg Neeley about the new addition to the staff. “I’m excited about adding someone of his character and experience to our coaching staff.”
McNeely joins one of the most up-and-coming programs at Piedmont as the youth of the Lions which came in during Head Coach Greg Neeley’s first season two years ago now returns to campus as veterans with success under their belts. The Lions are looking to improve on a program-best 3rd place finish in the USA South Athletic Conference last season and return five of their top six scorers from the 2014-15 campaign.
“I feel very blessed to join Coach Neeley’s staff and the Piedmont College Men’s Basketball program,” said new hire Dan McNeely. “Coach Neeley is a person of high integrity who has done a great job with the program since he has been at Piedmont. I am extremely excited to work with him and our student-athletes on a daily basis as we work towards a USA South conference championship.”
Most recently, McNeely served as the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at NCAA Division III member Manchester University in Indiana prior to joining the Lions. During his time with the program, McNeely helped recruit over 30 student-athletes to the program in a three-year period serving in his post during the 2012-13, 2013-14, and 2014-15 seasons.
While with Manchester, McNeely assisted in the planning and execution of all practices, game plans, and scouting reports helping the Spartans to 14 wins during his time frame with the program. During his second season with the Black and Gold, McNeely helped tutor a pair of All-Conference honorees in guard Brady Dolezal and forward Jon Thompson.
“I am fortunate to have played and worked under some great coaches who have helped prepare me for this position at Piedmont College,” said Coach McNeely of his collegiate experience so far. “My time as a student-athlete and assistant coach at the NCAA Division III level will hopefully serve the program well moving forward. My goal is to be the best servant-leader that I can be to the program, and I can’t wait to assist Coach Neeley and build into the lives of our current and future student-athletes.”
Before joining the Manchester coaching staff, McNeely served as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the men’s basketball program at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. Helping the program to 16 wins in his pair of seasons on staff, McNeely primarily assisted in several areas of the operation of the program including film breakdown and scouting while also helping to organize and run The Citadel Basketball Camps as well.
Also assisting on court during practices and games, McNeely was a part of the program’s largest second half comeback with The Citadel overcoming a 17-point halftime deficit against Western Carolina University on February 24, 2011 winning 72-60 in the end. McNeely also helped mentor a pair of Southern Conference Players of the Week and one Player of the Month during his two seasons in Charleston as well.
McNeely began his coaching career at the high school level while still pursuing his undergraduate degree coaching first at Xenia Christian High School before moving on Waynesville High School, both in Ohio. During his time with Xenia, McNeely developed a talent with working with the team’s guards before using that same knowledge to help lead Waynesville to a SWBL Conference Championship in 2010.
Championship experience is nothing new for McNeely as he played for Division III member Wittenberg University during the 2005-06 season, a year in which the Tigers posted one of four NCAA Division III National Runner-Ups in the program’s history. McNeely played in 22 games for the Tigers averaging close to 11 minutes a contest shooting 40% from the field and 44% from downtown on the season.
Also chipping in 29 assists and seven steals, McNeely and the Tigers continued a storied program history in the ’05-’06 campaign finishing just three points shy of claiming a national championship falling to Virginia Wesleyan 59-56 on March 18, 2006. Wittenberg has laid claim to two national championships in the program’s history, the first in 1961 and the second in 1977.
The ’05-’06 run was also a part of seven Division III Final Four appearances for the program as well with the last of those coming in 2006 during McNeely’s time with the program. In all, Wittenberg is also the winningest program in the history of NCAA Division III with more than 1,700 wins in 104 years and a .709 overall winning percentage, also best in Division III.
Having also made 27 NCAA National Tournament appearances, Wittenberg’s influence on McNeely has helped him along to an outstanding young coaching career as well as he has spent time on a Division I coaching staff and also coached at a Division III institution in just five years after earning his undergraduate degree.
“Coach McNeely is a Division III guy,” said Coach Greg Neeley. “He has Division III coaching experience and even more, he played at one of the top programs in all of Division III. These experiences will be a great resource for our student-athletes.”
During his career, McNeely has also gained administrative experience working as the Assistant to the Athletic Director at Cedarville University in Ohio helping the program transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II working directly under the Athletic Director. McNeely also organized road trips for the school’s 13 varsity programs and maintained the Yellow Jacket Club.
McNeely earned his Bachelor of Science in Management from Wittenberg University in May of 2010 while also minoring in Russian Area Studies. In June of 2012, McNeely completed his Master of Science in Health, Exercise, and Sport Science with a concentration in Sport Management at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina.
McNeely also earned his Graduate Certificate in Sport Management from the Citadel as well one month before completing his MA.
Originally from Beavercreek, Ohio, McNeely will assist Head Men’s Basketball Coach Greg Neeley in all facets of the program having relocated to the Demorest area with his wife Elisabeth and two sons, 2-year old Matthew and 6-month old Joseph.
http://www.piedmontlions.com/news/2015/9/29/MBB_0929154733.aspx
Photo Courtesy Piedmont Athletics
