Conference USA Preview: East Carolina
A new head coach will find his way to the ECU campus next season as former Pirates alum and Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill was brought in to replace the departed Skip Holtz.
The defending Conference USA champions bring in a sorely needed defensive-minded coach who views the ECU job as being one he could thrive in for many years to come. Many had thought that McNeill was the leading candidate to take over the Texas Tech head coaching job, but East Carolina was quick to pluck him off the coaching carousel and make him their next head man. McNeill is a highly regarded recruiter, which should help the Pirates draw more interest in their “mid major” program.
Recently, coach McNeill lost two of his top three rushers from a year ago, as he released Brandon Jackson from the team and suspended Giavanni Ruffin indefinitely.
Jackson was the team’s second leading rusher last year. He was charged with underage consumption of alcohol on March 30th and has been released from scholarship. Ruffin, who was 3rd on the team in rushing last season, was arrested for resisting and obstructing a police officer. It is not known when he will return to the team.