Jordan Neal

When former McMurry University Director of Athletics Sam Ferguson embarked on his search for the school’s new head football coach, he said he was looking for an individual of high character, a strong knowledge of Big Country and West Texas football and someone with the breadth of experience to give the War Hawks’ players the best opportunity for success.

On December 5, 2018, Ferguson got his man as former Cooper High School standout Jordan Neal agreed to return home to Abilene and become the 23rd head coach in McM football history.

Neal enters his fifth season at the helm in 2023. The first win of the Jordan Neal era came in dramatic fashion on February 6, 2021 as McMurry defeated Sul Ross State in a 17-14 thriller. Neal also led McMurry to a win in the postseason as the War Hawks knocked off Louisiana College in a 32-31 victory that was won with a touchdown in the final minute. McMurry finished the Spring 2021 season with a 2-3 record. The program continued their progress and were competitive nearly every week in the 2021 fall season, finishing with wins over Southwestern and Austin College. Neal nearly led his squad to an upset of his alma mater, as McMurry fell to No. 7 ranked Hardin-Simmons by a 24-21 final at HSU's Shelton Stadium. 

In four seasons under Neal's direction, McMurry has had 38 all-conference selections, two D3football.com All-Region honorees in Josh Smith (Fall 2021) and Jared Mendoza (Fall 2022),  five ASC Player of the Weeks in Colton Strickland (Spring 2021), Dexter Wyble (Fall 2021), Darrin Boston (Fall 2021), Dee Robinson (Fall 2021), Devin Nixon (2022), and Jared Mendoza (2022) as well as four D3football.com National Team of the Week players in Devin Nixon (Spring 2021), Jared Mendoza (Fall 2021, 2022) and Brendon Torrence (Fall 2021). Josh Smith also became the first player in ASC history to land all-conference honors for five straight seasons, three of which came under Neal.

Neal played his college football locally as a quarterback at Hardin-Simmons University under head coach Jimmie Keeling and offensive coordinator Alan Wartes. Prior to McMurry, Neal spent six years as the Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator at Hendrix College, as the school reintroduced football after a 53-year hiatus. According to HC head coach Buck Buchanan, Neal called every offensive play from the program's start back in 2013. Buchanan said, "I just let him do his thing.” And that “thing” virtually instantly generated one of the most productive offenses in NCAA Division III. Neal-led units have earned four NCAA III annual statistical champion honors: 2016- Passing Offense (with a Division III record 600 yards per game); 2016- Passing Efficiency; 2014 & 2016- Pass Completion Percentage.

Prior to joining the Hendrix staff, Neal was the Offensive Line Coach/Player Development Coordinator at Texas Lutheran University in 2012, setting multiple school records and an ASC-leading offense. From 2008-11, Neal was the Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach at Howard Payne University, generating the top offense in the ASC in 2009. Neal has been the winning head coach in the Dream Bowl, a premier All-Star Game in Virginia Beach, Va., in the first four years of its existence. In 2019, McMurry had two seniors represent the program in the game, Eriel Dorsey and Kevin Hurley Jr.

As for Neal's own career in leading the HSU offense, he was a four-time ASC Academic All-Conference honoree. Neal was a three-time All-ASC player, earning second-team accolades in 2003 and 2004, as well as first team in 2006, when he was also voted the circuit’s Offensive Player of the Year. He held 16 single-season or career records at HSU, including the career passing yards record with 8,347. Neal was a finalist for the 2006 Gagliardi Trophy, emblematic of the top player – athletically and academically – in NCAA Division III football.

Neal graduated from HSU with a Bachelors of Behavior Science in December 2005 with a 3.45 grade point average.

After graduation, Neal played professionally in Malmo, Sweden with the Limhamn Griffins. He also coached the quarterback and receivers of the junior club. While there, the Griffins won the Swedish American Football Federation title and Neal was named the league's Import Player of the Year.

As a prep at Cooper High School, graduating in 2001, Neal played under legendary coach Randy Allen. He was a two-year varsity letterman, earning first team All-State 5A in 2000. He was also the District 4-5A Offensive Player of the Year in 2000 and the Big Country FCA Football All-Star Game Offensive Player of the Game. Neal also got it done in the classroom for the Cougars, graduating with a 4.0 grade point average.

Neal and his wife Amanda have been married since 2007. The couple has a daughter, Adriana.