After years of being away from the East and East Carolina University, new Head Football Coach Ruffin McNeill ’80 and his wife Erlene ’79 have finally made it back home. “This is a destination job for me, it’s not work, it’s what I want to do,” commented Coach Ruff, as he is affectionately known, “I’m not leaving East Carolina until they haul me away.”
It is Coach Ruff’s appreciation for his alma mater, his nose-to-the-grindstone determination, and his passion for Pirates football that helped him secure his new post. “It is an honor and a privilege for me to be in this position and I see it as a huge responsibility. I want to be an ambassador for East Carolina and for eastern North Carolina. I take it very seriously,” he said.
Coach Ruff has made a career out of coaching young men, and it all started at home in Lumberton, NC with his teacher-parents Bonnie and Ruffin. “The priorities in my house were church, education, and athletics—in that order. My dad coached basketball and football; my brother Reginald ’83 and I played football, basketball, baseball, and ran track. Despite our athletic success, doing well academically was always stressed.”
Ruff’s football prowess was noticed by a number of colleges and he was actively recruited. But it was a visit from then-coach Pat Dye that won he and his family over to ECU. “Coach Dye noticed the praying hands picture that was on the wall in our house and he commented that he ‘felt right at home.’ My mother was busy preparing the meal and Coach asked, ‘are those collards I smell Mrs. McNeill? They smell delicious.’ Coach went into the kitchen with my mom and when he came back out I was going to ECU. It was really a no brainer for me. Between Coach Dye, the team, the school, and the city of Greenville, I knew East Carolina was where I belonged. Attending East Carolina was the best decision I ever made and it was an honor to play for someone like him.”
On the field, Ruff stood out as a freshman and quickly earned his way up from 7th string to 3rd string as a strong safety. He started as a sophomore, junior, and senior. “My favorite memories from playing football at ECU are the Southern Conference Championship in 1976, the Independence Bowl in 1978, the camaraderie with my teammates and playing for Coach Dye, and the tackle I made that won our game against N.C. State.”
It was the strong bonds Ruff formed with his teammates, guys like Reggie Pinkney ’77 and Cary Godette ’77, that kept him on track. “Some of the older players were real leaders and I looked up to them. We did things as a team and we had fun, but the older guys steered us in the right direction to make sure our academics were in order. We were all close with our coaches, too, and they wanted us to succeed on and off the field. Those relationships were priceless.”
Lessons learned from his father and on ECU’s field influenced Coach Ruff’s decision to become a teacher and coach. “Make sure your team is in better condition than the other team. Make sure your team is fundamentally sound. Emphasize that it’s not what you do; it’s how you do what you do that matters. I’ve only known gyms or field houses all my life. I love athletics, working with kids, and teaching,” said Coach Ruff. “To me, teaching is coaching and coaching is teaching, so it was an easy decision to do both.”
After graduation, Coach Ruff returned to Lumberton to teach special education and easily fell into a coaching position as well. He furthered his own education with a master’s in counseling from Clemson University and was able to teach classes here and there after he began coaching at the collegiate level.
It was during those early years of teaching that Coach Ruff met Erlene Wright, the future Mrs. McNeill—but it wasn’t when they were both students at ECU, it was on a sunny day at a pool. “I had just started working as a rehabilitation counselor in Lumberton and Ruffin was coaching at Lumberton High School. I lived at a restored apartment complex that had a pool. My cousin and I were lounging around the pool and a friend of ours, Donald Leech, who lived a couple of doors down from Ruffin, brought him over that afternoon. I just thought [Ruffin] was the best looking thing! I was kind of shy and I thought ‘oh, he’s probably looking at my cousin,’ but then shortly after we met he called me and the rest is history,” recalled Erlene.
Growing up, Erlene was less than 40 miles from Ruff in a town near Whiteville, NC called Hallsboro. Her father Cleophis was a minister and her mother Swannie stayed home with she and her eight brothers and sisters. Later in life her mother went back to school and received an associate’s degree and then received teacher certification in early childhood education and reading. “Education has always been something my family encouraged. My dad would say, ‘Get your education because that’s something no one can take away from you.’ All of my siblings and I were able to attend college.
Education is a common bond for Coach Ruff and Erlene. She was known in her family as the “serious, studious one,” and was encouraged by her parents and teachers to further her education. Like Ruff, she too earned her undergraduate degree in education, and then received a master’s in rehabilitation counseling from East Carolina.
“Having worked for two years before coming to ECU, I was in that driven mode. School was great for me. I was influenced by a few faculty members who really made me want to learn my profession.” In her career, Erlene has been a rehabilitation counselor, college counselor and instructor, advised Pan-Hellenic, worked with athletics, was a supervisor for rehabilitation studies interns, a student advisor, worked with a learning assistance program, and worked in private practice as a rehab counselor with veterans—all positions she was able to secure in order to move with Coach Ruff as he advanced in his own career.
Despite frequent relocations, Erlene and Ruff have always focused on their family unit. “No matter where we are, it’s important to keep our home life stable,” said Erlene. Their daughters Olivia and Renata, although grown, know they always have a home to return to—no matter where it is geographically.
The McNeill’s also provide a home-away-from-home for their football players, making sure each feels part of the family. “We love ‘em up,” said Coach Ruff. “The best part about coaching is being around the players, mentoring them to be responsible young men and good role models.” The players are also welcome in the McNeill’s home. Erlene often cooks meals for them and her signature sweet potato pie is always on the menu.
Sharing their life with the players is another way for Coach Ruff to stress his three pillars of coaching: trust between players and coaches, commitment, and caring. “A coach’s role is to teach and demand. A player’s job is to prepare and perform,” commented Ruff.
Both Coach Ruff and Erlene are expecting a lot out of this season. “I’m the typical coach’s wife,” said Erlene. “I’m going to be nervous.” She is excited about watching her husband as the head coach. He, on the other hand, is looking forward to the fan frenzy. “I know what it was like when I was a player here and I know it’s going to be even better now. I’m looking forward to the support of the Pirate Nation.”
“I can’t tell you how grateful we are for this opportunity and I have to thank Coach Holland for taking a chance on my husband,” said Erlene. “I’m so happy this has happened for Ruffin.”
So is the Pirate Nation. Welcome home, Coach Ruff and Erlene!