Cory McNeill enters his third year as Associate Head Coach of the University of Hartford women’s basketball team in 2018-19. McNeill, who is the husband of third-year head coach Kim McNeill, joined the Hawks’ coaching staff in June 2016.
Working primarily in developing the Hawks’ guards, Hartford’s backcourt has been one of the most productive in the America East with McNeill’s guidance. That work was evident in his first two years, as two guards have received All-Conference distinction from the league, including Sierra DaCosta, who became the program’s first Rookie of the Year winner since 2005-06 while three others have earned All-Rookie team honors.
McNeill’s role with coaching the guards was once again noticeable in 2017-18, as Hartford broke the program record for steals for the second consecutive season with 399. The Hawks also finished the season ranked among the NCAA's top-10 in several defensive categories, including steals (5th), steals per game (6th) turnover margin (7th) and turnovers forced (8th).
In 2016-17, under McNeill’s guidance, the Hawks were a dangerous threat from three-point land. Finishing as the top three-point shooting squad in the America East, Hartford made the third-most three-pointers in program history (199) and posted the school’s second-highest shooting percentage from behind the arc last year.
In addition to contributing to an offense that led the America East and broke the program’s scoring record, McNeill’s guards were also a major factor in the Hawks’ success defensively. Last season, Hartford shattered the program record in steals and ranked No. 5 in the nation in steals per game.
McNeill came to Hartford after spending five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Virginia. At Virginia, McNeill and his wife served on Joanne Boyle’s staff, where they helped the Cavaliers to a 90-71 record and three WNIT appearances, including back-to-back berths in 2015 and 2016.
Prior to joining the staff at Virginia, McNeill served as an assistant coach at Georgetown from 2007-11. During that time, the Baltimore, Md., native helped the Hoyas to one of the nation’s most impressive turnarounds, earning back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths for the first time in program history in 2010 and 2011.
In addition, with McNeill’s prowess as a defensive coach, Georgetown became one of the nation’s leaders in forced turnovers and defensive field goal percentage.
McNeill’s coaching career began at Coppin State. In five seasons, he led the Eagles to two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships, three regular-season MEAC Championships, two NCAA Tournament berths and a WNIT appearance.
McNeill played college basketball at Morgan State, where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance in 2002, and went on to earn his master’s degree in public administration in 2005 from the University of Baltimore.
