Mike Neu

Last updated
Mike Neu
Mikeneu2019vfau.jpg
Neu coaching the Ball State Cardinals in 2019
Ball State Cardinals
Position: Head coach
Personal information
Born: (1970-12-29) December 29, 1970 (age 53)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
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 a player:
As a coach:
As an administrator:
Career highlights and awards
As player
As coach
Career Arena statistics
Completions:3
Attempts:4
Yards:22
Touchdowns:1
Interceptions:0
Head coaching record
Regular season:AFL: 39–40 (.494)
NCAA: 37–56 (.398)
Postseason:AFL: 1–3 (.250)
Career:AFL: 40–43 (.482)
NCAA: 37–56 (.398)
Player stats at ArenaFan.com

Michael David Neu (born December 29, 1970) is an 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. Neu played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for one season, in France Championnat Élite Division 1 one season, then in the Arena Football League (AFL) for 2 seasons from 1996 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]

Contents

Early life and playing career

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana on December 29, 1970, Neu is the son of Gwyndoline and Ed Neu. [3] He attended Perry Meridian High School in Indianapolis, where was the starting quarterback. [4] He was named All-State as a senior in 1989. Neu grew up a fan of the University of Notre Dame. [5] 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. [6]

Neu signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, where he served as a backup to Doug Flutie in 1995. He signed with the Grenoble Centaures in France. 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.

Coaching career

In 1994, before pursuing a professional career, Neu would become a graduate assistant for Ball State.

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. [7]

Neu was named the head coach at his alma mater Ball State on January 7, 2016. [8] Neu was signed to a two-year extension in 2020. [9] [10] In the 2020 season, Mike Neu guided Ball State to their first bowl victory in school history defeating the 19th ranked San Jose State Spartans by a score of 34-13 in the Arizona Bowl. [11]

Personal

Neu has three children: Graycen, Carson, and Chase.

Head coaching record

Professional

TeamYearRegular SeasonPost Season
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
AUG 2000 1330.8131st in AF2 American Conference11.500Lost to Tennessee Valley Vipers in Semifinals.
AUG Total1330.81311.500–
AF2 Total1330.81311.500–
CAR 2001 010.0003rd in AFL Eastern Division01.000Lost to Indiana Firebirds in Wild Card Round.
CAR 2002 680.4292nd in AFL Southern Division11.500Lost to Arizona Rattlers in Quarterfinals.
CAR Total690.40012.333–
NO 2004 1150.6881st in AFL Southern Division01.000Lost to Colorado Crush in Quarterfinals.
NO 2005 970.5624th in AFL Southern Division––––
NO 2007 5110.3134th in AFL Southern Division––––
NO 2008 880.500T-3rd in AFL Southern Division––––
NO Total33310.51601.000–
AFL Total39400.49413.250–
Total52430.54724.333–


College

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs Coaches#AP°
Ball State Cardinals (Mid-American Conference)(2016–present)
2016 Ball State 4–81–76th (West)
2017 Ball State 2–100–86th (West)
2018 Ball State 4–83–55th (West)
2019 Ball State 5–74–4T–3rd (West)
2020 Ball State 7–15–11st (West)W Arizona 2323
2021 Ball State 6–74–4T–4th (West) L Camellia
2022 Ball State 5–73–5T–4th (West)
2023 Ball State 4–83–5T–4th (West)
Ball State:37–5623–39
Total:37–56

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References

  1. ↑ "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.
  2. ↑ Dakota Crawford, "Ball State names Mike Neu head football coach", Indianapolis Star , January 7, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Obituaries". www.furnituretoday.com. BridgeTower Media. March 25, 2002. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Ball State hires Mike Neu as head coach". USA Today. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Head Coach Mike Neu Inks Extension Through 2022 Season". Ball State University Athletics. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "Ball State AD Beth Goetz says football coach Mike Neu will receive extension after season". The Star Press. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "Cardinals Finish Memorable 2020 with Arizona Bowl Win".
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