Mike Neu
Michael David Neu (born December 29, 1970) is and American football coach and former quarterback, who is the current head football coach of the Ball State Cardinals. He played college football at Ball State for Paul Schudel from 1990 to 1993 and played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for one season and the Arena Football League (AFL) for 2 seasons from 1995 to 1997. He then served as the head coach of the af2's Augusta Stallions (2000), the AFL's Carolina Cobras (2001–2002) and the New Orleans VooDoo (2004–2008).[1] In 2016, Neu returned to his alma mater, Ball State.[2]
 Neu coaching the Ball State Cardinals in 2019 | |||||||||||
| Ball State Cardinals | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Head coach | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | December 29, 1970 Indianapolis, Indiana | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Perry Meridian (Indianapolis, Indiana) | ||||||||||
| College: | Ball State | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1994 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| As player: | |||||||||||
| As coach: | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career Arena statistics | |||||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||||
| Regular season: | 39–40 (.494) | ||||||||||
| Postseason: | 1–3 (.250) | ||||||||||
| Career: | 40–43 (.482) | ||||||||||
| Player stats at ArenaFan.com | |||||||||||
Neu was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He attended high school in Indianapolis at Perry Meridian High School. In 1990, Neu enrolled at Ball State University and played quarterback for the Cardinals, starting for four seasons. As a senior in 1993, he led Ball State to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship, was named the MAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.[3]
In 1994, before pursuing a professional career, Neu would become a graduate assistant for Ball State. He would sign with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, where he served as a backup to Doug Flutie in 1995. In 1996, Neu signed with the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League, where he spent the season as a backup to Pat O'Hara. He appeared in a single game for the Predators, throwing and rushing for touchdowns. The following year he signed with the Nashville Kats, but never appeared in a single game.
From 1998 to 1999, he would remain with the Kats, but in the roles of quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator respectfully. In 2000, he turned to the af2 as the head coach of the Augusta Stallions. Neu returned to the AFL ranks in 2001 as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Cobras. When head coach Doug Kay resigned suddenly during the season, Neu was elevated to head coach of the Cobras, leading them to a Wild Card round loss to the Indiana Firebirds. After having the interim tag removed, Neu led the Cobras to the AFL Semifinals, where they lost to AFL runner-up, Arizona Rattlers. After taking a year off, Neu was named the head coach of the New Orleans VooDoo and led them to a 2004 South Division Title. During the 2006 AFL season, while the VooDoo suspended operations for the season, he worked as a professional scout for the National Football League's New Orleans Saints.
In 2014, Neu left his job as quarterbacks coach with the Tulane Green Wave football team, to take the same position with the Saints.[4]
Early life
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 29, 1970, Neu is the son of Gwyndoline and Ed Neu.[5] He attended Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis, where was the starting quarterback.[6] He was named All-State as a senior in 1989. Neu grew up a fan of the University of Notre Dame.[7]
Head coaching record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State Cardinals (Mid-American Conference) (2016–present) | |||||||||
| 2016 | Ball State | 4–8 | 1–7 | 6th (West) | |||||
| 2017 | Ball State | 2–10 | 0–8 | 6th (West) | |||||
| 2018 | Ball State | 4–8 | 3–5 | 5th (West) | |||||
| 2019 | Ball State | 5–7 | 4–4 | T–3rd (West) | |||||
| Ball State: | 15–33 | 8–24 | |||||||
| Total: | 15–33 | ||||||||
Professional
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| AUG | 2000 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in AF2 American Conference | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Tennessee Valley Vipers in Semifinals. |
| AUG Total | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1 | 1 | .500 | – | ||
| AF2 Total | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1 | 1 | .500 | – | ||
| CAR | 2001 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 3rd in AFL Eastern Division | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Indiana Firebirds in Wild Card Round. |
| CAR | 2002 | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2nd in AFL Southern Division | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Arizona Rattlers in Quarterfinals. |
| CAR Total | 6 | 9 | 0 | .400 | 1 | 2 | .333 | – | ||
| NO | 2004 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in AFL Southern Division | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Colorado Crush in Quarterfinals. |
| NO | 2005 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .562 | 4th in AFL Southern Division | – | – | – | – |
| NO | 2007 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in AFL Southern Division | – | – | – | – |
| NO | 2008 | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | T-3rd in AFL Southern Division | – | – | – | – |
| NO Total | 33 | 31 | 0 | .516 | 0 | 1 | .000 | – | ||
| AFL Total | 39 | 40 | 0 | .494 | 1 | 3 | .250 | – | ||
| Total | 52 | 43 | 0 | .547 | 2 | 4 | .333 | – | ||
Personal
Neu has 3 children; Graycen, Carson, and Chase.
References
- "A Neu Era: Mike Neu returns home as Ball State football coach". www.chatsports.com. Chat Sports, Inc. January 11, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- Dakota Crawford, "Ball State names Mike Neu head football coach", Indianapolis Star, January 7, 2016.
- "New Orleans VooDoo Coach Mike Neu to be inducted into Ball State Hall of Fame". www.oursportscentral.com. OurSports Central. December 30, 2004. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- Tammy Nunez (February 4, 2014). "New Orleans Saints confirm Tulane QB coach Mike Neu headed back to Saints as QB coach". www.nola.com. NOLA Media Group. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- "Obituaries". www.furnituretoday.com. BridgeTower Media. March 25, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- Bob Kravitz (September 2, 2016). "KRAVITZ: Family and football bring Ball State alum Mike Neu back to Muncie". www.wthr.com. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- Zach Piatt (September 6, 2018). "Head coach Mike Neu revisits childhood as Cardinals prepare to take on Irish". www.ballstatedaily.com. Unified Student Media. Retrieved March 15, 2020.