John Neal -
	Position: Pass Defense Coord./Defensive Secondary

Neal came to UAB in January, 1995, from Ole Miss, where he was an assistant coach for Billy Brewer for three years (1992-94).

In addition to his duties with the defensive backs, Neal coordinates overall UAB pass defense strategy, working closely with defensive coordinator Rick Christophel.

During his tenure at UAB, Neal has coached the top two tacklers in the programÕs history, Alan Willis and Izell Reese; during that same span, he also coached the programÕs first two NFL draft picks, Reese and Dainon Sidney (who played in Super Bolwl XXXIV with the Tennessee Titans), as well as 1999 All-America cornerback and NFL draft pick Rodregis Brooks.

Prior to his work at Ole Miss, Neal was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Pacific for two years (1990-91). The native of Mountain View, Calif. has been involved in collegiate coaching for 22 years since his start in the spring of 1980, when he was a graduate assistant for his alma mater, Brigham Young University.

Neal was the junior varsity coach while serving as a graduate assistant at the University of New Mexico in the fall of 1980. He was promoted to full-time status the following year and was an assistant coach for the Lobos through the 1985 season.

Neal served as the defensive coordinator at East Tennessee State University in 1986 before coaching the secondary at Oregon State for three seasons (1987-89).

After playing two years at Foothill Junior College in Los Altos, Calif., Neal transferred to Brigham Young where he was a two-year letterwinner at defensive back for LaVell Edwards. Neal was an All-Western Athletic Conference selection as a senior; he earned his undergraduate degree from BYU in 1980 and had additional graduate study at New Mexico.

Neal and his wife, Jan, a UAB graduate, have three children Ñ son Casey and daughters Christin and Caitlin.