He's leaving to take care of his 85 year old father.
Did you see where Ruffin is stepping down?
- Thread starter veritas59
- Start date
Thanks Coach Ruffin; Always a member of the Sooner Family.
Time for Joe C to find the next integral Cog for the Machine. Get er done asap !
Time for Joe C to find the next integral Cog for the Machine. Get er done asap !
Ruffin McNeill announces temporary step away from football
ByJOEY HELMER 14 hours ago
NORMAN, Okla. — Sooner assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach Ruffin McNeill is temporarily stepping away from football, he announced Thursday afternoon. He’s doing so to help care for his 85-year-old father.
“This was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make,” McNeill said. “But in the end, being near my dad was a necessary choice. Right now I need to be a son again and I need to help my brother and other family members take care of my dad, who is battling significant health issues. This is not retirement for me. I still want to coach in some form or fashion. But right now that can't be the case. My focus needs to be on my dad back in North Carolina.”
Hired by Lincoln Riley one week after he was named OU head coach back in 2017, McNeill has helped the Sooners to a 36-6 (.857) record while earning three College Football Playoff appearances. That includes three Big 12 Championships, part of a string of five straight.
“Ruffin means so much to me and to my family, and his family means so much to him,” Riley said. “I know his decision to leave OU was a very difficult one, but was one he felt he had to make.
“We go back a long, long way. Hard to believe we've been together 15 of the last 17 years. I certainly owe him for helping shape me as a football coach, but I'll always be more appreciative of the impact he had on shaping me as a person. He's as genuine as it gets. I'm incredibly grateful for his mentorship and friendship, and for everything he's done for me and my family. We wish him, his wife Erlene and their family the best of luck as they return home.”
McNeill coached defensive tackles at OU in 2017 and the start of the 2018 season before being named interim co-defensive coordinator for the final eight games of 2018. He came to Norman from Virginia where he served the 2016 season as assistant head coach and defensive line coach.
Prior to that, from 2010 to 2015, McNeill was head coach at East Carolina—his alma mater—and led the Pirates to a 42-34 (.553) record and four bowl appearances. Riley was his offensive coordinator all six seasons. The pair was also together from the 2003 through 2009 seasons at Texas Tech, where McNeill was defensive coordinator the last two-plus seasons and where Riley held various offensive posts.
McNeill made sure to point out his time in Norman has been incredible special primarily because of the people.
“The word 'fantastic' does not begin to describe my three years at OU working for Lincoln and this administration,” McNeill said. “And I need to include the fans, as well. They've been absolutely wonderful. And it's more than football. It's family. Lincoln and [his wife] Caitlin and their kids are family to me. All of the football staff and players here are family to me. These three years have been among the best of my life.
4COMMENTS
“I absolutely loved working for [defensive coordinator] Alex Grinch and with the other coaches. I absolutely loved all my players here. The championships were great and the playoff appearances were great, but the relationships were greater. That's what I'll miss about OU the most. I loved where I worked and I loved the people I worked for. And not one day felt like work. Not a day.”
Riley said an immediate search to fill the vacancy left by McNeill’s departure is underway. The Sooners also have another vacancy from running backs coach Jay Boulware’s exit.
ByJOEY HELMER 14 hours ago
NORMAN, Okla. — Sooner assistant head coach and outside linebackers coach Ruffin McNeill is temporarily stepping away from football, he announced Thursday afternoon. He’s doing so to help care for his 85-year-old father.
“This was one of the hardest decisions I've had to make,” McNeill said. “But in the end, being near my dad was a necessary choice. Right now I need to be a son again and I need to help my brother and other family members take care of my dad, who is battling significant health issues. This is not retirement for me. I still want to coach in some form or fashion. But right now that can't be the case. My focus needs to be on my dad back in North Carolina.”
Hired by Lincoln Riley one week after he was named OU head coach back in 2017, McNeill has helped the Sooners to a 36-6 (.857) record while earning three College Football Playoff appearances. That includes three Big 12 Championships, part of a string of five straight.
“Ruffin means so much to me and to my family, and his family means so much to him,” Riley said. “I know his decision to leave OU was a very difficult one, but was one he felt he had to make.
“We go back a long, long way. Hard to believe we've been together 15 of the last 17 years. I certainly owe him for helping shape me as a football coach, but I'll always be more appreciative of the impact he had on shaping me as a person. He's as genuine as it gets. I'm incredibly grateful for his mentorship and friendship, and for everything he's done for me and my family. We wish him, his wife Erlene and their family the best of luck as they return home.”
McNeill coached defensive tackles at OU in 2017 and the start of the 2018 season before being named interim co-defensive coordinator for the final eight games of 2018. He came to Norman from Virginia where he served the 2016 season as assistant head coach and defensive line coach.
Prior to that, from 2010 to 2015, McNeill was head coach at East Carolina—his alma mater—and led the Pirates to a 42-34 (.553) record and four bowl appearances. Riley was his offensive coordinator all six seasons. The pair was also together from the 2003 through 2009 seasons at Texas Tech, where McNeill was defensive coordinator the last two-plus seasons and where Riley held various offensive posts.
McNeill made sure to point out his time in Norman has been incredible special primarily because of the people.
“The word 'fantastic' does not begin to describe my three years at OU working for Lincoln and this administration,” McNeill said. “And I need to include the fans, as well. They've been absolutely wonderful. And it's more than football. It's family. Lincoln and [his wife] Caitlin and their kids are family to me. All of the football staff and players here are family to me. These three years have been among the best of my life.
4COMMENTS
“I absolutely loved working for [defensive coordinator] Alex Grinch and with the other coaches. I absolutely loved all my players here. The championships were great and the playoff appearances were great, but the relationships were greater. That's what I'll miss about OU the most. I loved where I worked and I loved the people I worked for. And not one day felt like work. Not a day.”
Riley said an immediate search to fill the vacancy left by McNeill’s departure is underway. The Sooners also have another vacancy from running backs coach Jay Boulware’s exit.
1. I know it's Coach McNeill; Ruffin is just a 'too cool' name.
2. I can relate; I have a Pop back home the same age that I wish I could go take care of. Fortunately he's in pretty good shape these days
2. I can relate; I have a Pop back home the same age that I wish I could go take care of. Fortunately he's in pretty good shape these days
I don't think I've even heard his name mentioned this past season
Lots of rumors..
DeMarco as the RB coach is one.
DeMarco as the RB coach is one.
Hopefully we stop using starters to run back kick offs and punts. It has left to many risks for the gains. Cee Dee getting a head injury should have been alarm enough. I would welcome DeMarco as a coach.
