McNeal Named Illini Football's Director of Recruiting
February 24, 2021 | Football
News
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Nathan McNeal has rejoined the Illinois the Illinois football staff, head coach Bret Bielema announced Wednesday. McNeal has been hired as Director of Recruiting after serving as Director of High School Relations for the Illini from 2016-18. McNeal spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons at Temple as Director of Player Personnel, overseeing all recruiting efforts for the Owls.
McNeal has deep ties to the state of Illinois, including playing and working on the football staff at his alma mater Northern Illinois. He spent three years on staff at NIU as a graduate assistant for football operations and video for two seasons before being promoted to director of player personnel for one season.
McNeal played at Northern Illinois from 2011-13. He played in 16 games, including 13 as a redshirt senior in 2013. McNeal helped the Huskies win the 2012 MAC championship and become the first MAC team to make a BCS bowl when they played in the Orange Bowl and the following year helped the 2013 Huskies to the Poinsettia Bowl.
McNeal graduated from Northern Illinois with a degree in communications in 2013 and completed a masters in sports management in 2015.
