Colin Neely joined the University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP) football staff in December 2022 and as of the 2025-26 season is in his sixth year alongside Head Coach Mark Hall, serving as the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. Prior to his arrival at UNCP, Neely held the position of Defensive Coordinator at Chowan University from 2020-22 and earlier coached at Edinboro University and East Stroudsburg University.
During his first season at UNCP, Neely immediately improved a defense that ranked 94th nationally in passing yards allowed to 36th, while also overseeing a unit that led NCAA Division II in tackles for loss per game and reduced scoring defense by 10 points per outing. Neely played his collegiate football at Michigan State University from 2008-10 where he appeared in 39 games (27 starts) at defensive end, logged 75 career tackles including 19.5 tackles for loss and six sacks, and was named to the All-Big Ten Third Team by Phil Steele as a senior. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice earned in 2012 from Michigan State.
