View source for Craig Neal

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach (born 1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{COI|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name            = Craig Neal
| image           = Craig Neal in 2008.jpg
| width           = 
| caption         = Craig Neal in December 2008 at the [[Jenny Craig Pavilion]] in [[San Diego]]
| team            = Nevada Wolf Pack
| league          = [[Mountain West Conference]]
| position        = Associate head coach
| height_ft       = 6
| height_in       = 5
| weight_lb       = 165
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1964|02|16}}
| birth_place     = [[Muncie, Indiana]], U.S.
| death_date      = 
| death_place     = 
| high_school     = [[Washington High School (Washington, Indiana)|Washington]] ([[Washington, Indiana]])
| college         = [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball|Georgia Tech]] (1983–1988)
| draft_year      = 1988
| draft_round     = 3
| draft_pick      = 71
| draft_team      = [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| career_start    = 1988
| career_end      = 1995
| career_number   = 10, 11, 22
| career_position = [[Shooting guard]]
| coach_start     = 2000
| coach_end       = 
| years1          = 1988
| team1           = [[Jacksonville Hooters]]
| years2          = {{nbay|1988|full=y}}
| team2           = [[Portland Trail Blazers]]
| years3          = {{nbay|1988|end}}
| team3           = [[Miami Heat]]
| years4          = 1989–1990
| team4           = [[Rapid City Thrillers]]
| years5          = 1990–1991
| team5           = [[Columbus Horizon]]
| years6          = {{nbay|1990|end}}
| team6           = [[Denver Nuggets]]
| years7          = 1991
| team7           = [[Florida Jades]]
| years8          = 1991–1993
| team8           = Rapid City Thrillers
| years9          = 1993–1994
| team9           = [[Fort Wayne Fury]]
| years10         = 1994
| team10          = [[Omaha Racers]]
| years11         = 1994–1995
| team11          = Fort Wayne Fury
| cyears1         = 2000–2003
| cteam1          = [[Toronto Raptors]] (assistant)
| cyears2         = 2004–2007
| cteam2          = [[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|Iowa]] (Associate HC)
| cyears3         = 2007–2013
| cteam3          = [[New Mexico Lobos men's basketball|New Mexico]] (Associate HC)
| cyears4         = 2013–2017
| cteam4          = New Mexico
| cyears5         = 2019–present
| cteam5          = [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]] (Associate HC)
| bbr             = nealcr01
| highlights      = '''As player:'''
*[[World Basketball League|WBL]] All-Star (1991)
'''As head coach:'''
*[[Mountain West Conference men's basketball tournament|Mountain West tournament]] champion ([[2014 Mountain West Conference men's basketball tournament|2014]])
| medaltemplates  = {{MedalSport | Men's [[basketball]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIBA Americas Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold| [[1993 Tournament of the Americas|1993 San Juan]]| [[1993 Tournament of the Americas|Team competition]]}}
}}

'''Craig Duane Neal''' (born February 16, 1964) is an American [[basketball]] coach and former player who is the associate head coach for the [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada Wolf Pack]] of the [[Mountain West Conference]] (MWC). He played professionally in the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA).

Neal played [[college basketball]] for the [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball|Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]] and was selected by the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] in the third round (71st pick overall) of the [[1988 NBA draft]]. He played in the NBA and several minor leagues.

==High school==
He was brought up in [[Washington, Indiana]], where he played high school basketball at [[Washington High School (Washington, Indiana)|Washington High School]], coached by his father, Stan. As a senior in 1983, he earned all-American<ref name="Albuquerque Journal 2013"/> and all-state honors, averaging 27.6 points per game and leading his 25-2 Washington High School team to the semi-state finals. He scored 1,440 points in his Hatchets career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Craig Neal - Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame |url=https://hoopshall.com/inductees/craig-neal/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=hoopshall.com/ |language=en-US}}</ref>

==College playing career==
In 1982, Neal signed with the [[Georgia Institute of Technology]] (Georgia Tech) to play basketball under coach [[Bobby Cremins]].<ref name="Albuquerque Journal 2013">{{cite web |author=Grammer, Geoff |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/239775/neal-gets-to-make-his-mark-3.html |title=Neal gets to make his mark |work=Albuquerque Journal |date=June 9, 2013 |accessdate=April 2, 2017}}</ref>

Neal played for the [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball|Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets]] from 1983 to 1988.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/craig-neal-1.html |title=Players: Craig Neal |work=Sports-Reference CBB |accessdate=April 2, 2017}}</ref> Due to a season-ending injury, Neal played only four games in his sophomore season in 1984–85 and [[Redshirt (college sports)|redshirted]] that year.<ref name="golobos.com 2016"/> As a senior in 1987–88, Neal set the ACC single-season record with 303 assists while averaging a league-best 9.5 assists per game in addition to 7.7 points.<ref name="golobos.com 2016">{{cite web |url=http://golobos.com/coaches.aspx?rc=190&path=mbball&mobile=skip |title=2016-17 Men's Basketball Coaching Staff: Craig Neal |publisher=University of New Mexico Athletics |accessdate=April 17, 2017 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402081025/http://golobos.com/coaches.aspx?rc=380 |archivedate=April 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

During Neal's time at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets made the [[1984 National Invitation Tournament|1984 NIT]] and subsequent NCAA Tournaments the following four years, including trips to the Elite Eight in 1985 and Sweet Sixteen in 1986.<ref name="golobos.com 2016"/>

Neal graduated with a bachelor's degree in management in 1988.<ref name="golobos.com 2013">{{Cite web |date=2013-04-02 |title=Craig Neal Named 20th Basketball Coach at New Mexico |url=https://golobos.com/news/2013/04/02/craig-neal-named-20th-basketball-coach-at-new-mexico/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=University of New Mexico Lobos athletics |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Professional playing career==
In the [[1988 NBA draft]], the [[Portland Trail Blazers]] picked Neal in the third round, 71st overall.<ref name="basketball-reference.com 2017">{{cite web |title=Craig Neal |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nealcr01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616172041/https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/n/nealcr01.html |archive-date=2017-06-16 |accessdate=April 2, 2017 |work=basketball-reference.com}}</ref> Neal began his basketball career playing for the Jacksonville Hooters of the [[United States Basketball League|USBL]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/130181360/ |title=The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida on June 3, 1988 · Page 175 |via=Newspapers.com |date=3 June 1988}}</ref> In his rookie NBA season, Neal played 21 games for the Portland Trail Blazers before being waived on January 11, 1989. On February 3, Neal signed as a free agent with the [[Miami Heat]] and played 32 games.<ref name="basketball-reference.com 2017" />

After playing in the CBA in the 1989–90 season, Neal returned to the NBA in 1990 as a free agent with the [[Chicago Bulls]] but was released before the regular season. On February 12, 1991, Neal signed with the [[Denver Nuggets]]. In 10 games, Neal averaged 12.5 minutes and 4.4 points before being waived on March 3.<ref name="basketball-reference.com 2017" />

Neal later played for the [[Florida Jades]] of the [[World Basketball League]] in 1991 and he was the Most Valuable Player in the 1991 WBL All-Star Game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.apbr.org/wbl88-92.html |title=World Basketball League |website=apbr.org}}</ref>

Neal served as a player and coach for the [[Fort Wayne Fury]] of the CBA in 1994–95.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/coachfile/craig_neal/ |title=Craig Neal |year=2001 |publisher=National Basketball Association |accessdate=April 2, 2017}}</ref>

==NBA scouting and coaching career==
In 1996, Neal joined the [[Toronto Raptors]] of the NBA as a scout before becoming an assistant coach for the team under [[Lenny Wilkens]] in 2000.<ref name="golobos.com 2016"/><ref name="Albuquerque Journal 2013"/> For three years, Neal coached the Raptors' summer league team and led pre-draft workouts for prospects. After Wilkens was fired, Neal returned to a scouting role for the Raptors during the 2003–04 season.<ref name="golobos.com 2016"/>

==College coaching career==

===Iowa===
In August 2004, Craig Neal joined long-time friend and head coach [[Steve Alford]] at the [[Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball|University of Iowa]]. Neal and Alford had known each other since they were in the third grade.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-25 |title=Former assistant Craig Neal takes over at New Mexico after Alford's departure for UCLA |url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/former-assistant-craig-neal-takes-over-at-new-mexico-after-alfords-departure-for-ucla |access-date=2024-01-31 |agency=Associated Press |language=en-US}}</ref> With Neal as Associate Head Coach, Iowa posted a 63–35 record, including consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament in [[2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2005]] and [[2006 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2006]]. The Hawkeyes won 25 games in 2005–06. They also captured the [[2006 Big Ten men's basketball tournament|2006 Big Ten Conference tournament]] title and ran off a school record 19-game winning streak in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, winning all 17 home games in 2005–06.<ref name="golobos.com 2016"/>

===New Mexico===
On March 27, 2007, Craig Neal followed Steve Alford to [[New Mexico Lobos men's basketball|New Mexico]] and became the Associate Head Coach of the Lobos. In his first year at New Mexico, Craig Neal played an essential role in turning New Mexico into a competitive team. In addition, the Lobos made the [[National Invitation Tournament|NIT]], their first trip to the postseason since 2005. In [[2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2010]] and [[2016 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2012]], New Mexico reached the NCAA tournament (winning both opening round games). In [[2013 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|2013]]. New Mexico reached the NCAA tournament as the number 3 seed, losing in the first round to 14th seed [[2012–13 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team|Harvard]].

On April 2, 2013, New Mexico promoted Neal to Head Coach<ref>{{cite web |url=http://golobos.com/news/2013/4/2/209060845.aspx?path=mbball |title=Craig Neal Named 20th Basketball Coach at New Mexico |publisher=University of New Mexico |date=April 2, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406134452/http://www.golobos.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040213aad.html |archivedate=April 6, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> after Alford left to take the head coaching position at [[UCLA Bruins men's basketball|UCLA]]. Neal signed a five-year contract worth $750,000 annually plus incentives.<ref name="golobos.com 2013"/> At his introductory press conference Neal remarked "It's just been amazing, this has been one of the happiest days of my life. Steve set the bar really high, I'm going to try and jump over it."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-04-04 |title=Craig Neal officially introduced as New Mexico Lobos coach |url=https://www.koat.com/article/craig-neal-officially-introduced-as-new-mexico-lobos-coach/5046931 |access-date=2024-01-31 |publisher=KOAT |language=en}}</ref>

In Neal's first season as head coach, New Mexico finished 27–7, including 15–3 and second place in the [[Mountain West Conference]]. New Mexico beat [[2013–14 San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball team|San Diego State]] in the [[2014 Mountain West Conference men's basketball tournament|Mountain West tournament]], finished the season ranked 17th in the [[AP Poll]], and earned an automatic bid to the [[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]]. As a 7 seed in the tournament, New Mexico lost in the Round of 64 to 10 seed [[2013–14 Stanford Cardinal men's basketball team|Stanford]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/new-mexico/2014-schedule.html |title=2013-14 New Mexico Lobos Schedule and Results}}</ref> New Mexico Athletic Director Paul Krebs rewarded Neal with a two-year contract extension.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-03-31 |title=New Mexico gives coach Neal 2-year extension |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/10706048/new-mexico-lobos-give-craig-neal-2-year-contract-extension |access-date=2024-01-31 |publisher=ESPN |language=en}}</ref>

However, New Mexico went 15–16 the following year and 17–15 in 2015–16 and failed to make the NCAA tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/craig-neal-1.html |title=Craig Neal |work=SRCBB |accessdate=April 1, 2017}}</ref> Neal's son Cullen, a starting guard on the team, left the program after the year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-14 |title=New Mexico G Neal transferring from school |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/14968784/cullen-neal-transfer-new-mexico-lobos-leaving-coach-father-craig-neal |access-date=2024-01-31 |publisher=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> In 2016–17, New Mexico went 17–14 and marked the first time in the nearly 50-year history of [[The Pit (arena)|The Pit]] that home attendance did not rank in the top 25 in Division I.<ref name="Albuquerque Journal 2017" /> By the end of the season, four players who had eligibility remaining decided to leave the program, including leading scorer Elijah Brown.<ref name="Albuquerque Journal 2017" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kob.com/sports/unm-new-mexico-lobos-mountain-west-basketball-elijah-brown/4431130/ |title=Basketball player Elijah Brown to transfer from UNM |publisher=KOB-TV |accessdate=April 1, 2017 |date=March 20, 2017}}</ref>

On March 31, 2017, New Mexico fired Neal 3 weeks after Lobos AD Paul Krebs announced that Neal would return next season.<ref name="Albuquerque Journal 2017">{{cite web |url=https://www.abqjournal.com/980634/neal-is-out-as-unm-basketball-coach.html |title=Neal is out as UNM basketball coach |author=Grammer, Geoff |work=Albuquerque Journal |date=April 1, 2017 |accessdate=April 1, 2017}}</ref> Acting university president Chaouki Abdallah stated: "The decision made late tonight comes after lengthy consideration in light of recent developments that cannot be ignored."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://golobos.com/news/2017/4/1/craig-neal-relieved-of-duties-as-mens-basketball-coach.aspx |title=Craig Neal relieved of duties as men's basketball coach |publisher=University of New Mexico |date=April 1, 2017 |accessdate=April 1, 2017}}</ref>

=== Nevada ===
After spending two seasons out of college basketball, Neal rejoined his old friend Steve Alford, now the Head Coach at [[Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball|Nevada]], before the 2019–20 season. Neal was hired as associate head coach and became the highest paid assistant coach in Nevada athletics history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Chris |date=2019-07-24 |title=Craig Neal becomes highest-paid assistant coach in Nevada athletics history |url=https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/craig-neal-becomes-highest-paid-assistant-coach-in-nevada-athletics-history |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Nevada Sports Net |language=en}}</ref>

===Head coaching record===
{{CBB Yearly Record Start
|
|type=coach
|conference=
|postseason=
|poll=no
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 |name=[[New Mexico Lobos men's basketball|New Mexico Lobos]]
 |startyear=2013
 |conference=[[Mountain West Conference]]
 |endyear=2017
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference tournament
 | season       = [[2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2013–14]]
 | name         = [[2013–14 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team|New Mexico]]
 | overall      = 27–7
 | conference   = 15–3
 | confstanding = 2nd
 | postseason   =  [[2014 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA round of 64]]
 | ranking      = 
 | ranking2     =  
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2014-15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2014–15]]
 | name         = [[2014–15 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team|New Mexico]]
 | overall      = 15–16
 | conference   = 7–11
 | confstanding = 8th
 | postseason   =  
 | ranking      = 
 | ranking2     =  
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2015–16]]
 | name         = [[2015–16 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team|New Mexico]]
 | overall      = 17–15
 | conference   = 10–8
 | confstanding = T–4th
 | postseason   =  
 | ranking      = 
 | ranking2     =  
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | season       = [[2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season|2016–17]]
 | name         = [[2016–17 New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team|New Mexico]]
 | overall      = 17–14
 | conference   = 10–8
 | confstanding = 5th
 | postseason   =  
 | ranking      = 
 | ranking2     =  
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = New Mexico
 | overall    = 76–52 ({{Winning percentage|76|52}})
 | confrecord = 42–30 ({{Winning percentage|42|30}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
 | overall    = 76–52 ({{Winning percentage|76|52}})
}}

==Community service==
Neal founded the Craig Neal/Grant Delagrange Benefit Golf Tournament in [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne, IN]], to raise money for schools to support children with [[autism]] and [[Down syndrome]]. In addition, while in Toronto, Craig Neal was involved with the NBA's Team Up community service program.<ref name="golobos.com 2016"/>

==Family==
Neal and his wife, Janet, have two sons, Cullen and Dalton. Cullen played five seasons of college basketball and is now a staff member at [[Rice Owls men's basketball|Rice]]. Craig's younger brother Shane played four seasons for the [[Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball|University of Tennessee-Chattanooga]] Mocs men's basketball team, and their father Stan played college basketball at [[Ball State University]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{New Mexico Lobos men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{United States squad 1993 FIBA Americas Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neal, Craig}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Basketball coaches from Indiana]]
[[Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States]]
[[Category:Columbus Horizon players]]
[[Category:Denver Nuggets players]]
[[Category:Educators from Indiana]]
[[Category:Fort Wayne Fury players]]
[[Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Miami Heat players]]
[[Category:Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:New Mexico Lobos men's basketball coaches]]
[[Category:People from Washington, Indiana]]
[[Category:Point guards]]
[[Category:Portland Trail Blazers draft picks]]
[[Category:Portland Trail Blazers players]]
[[Category:Rapid City Thrillers players]]
[[Category:Shooting guards]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Muncie, Indiana]]
[[Category:Toronto Raptors assistant coaches]]
[[Category:United States men's national basketball team players]]