 Neil McGrath |
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Neil McGrath enters his eighth season with the Bears as the
Defensive Line Coach, and has developed the defensive front line to
where it is considered among the best in the Ivy League.
His 2008 defensive line helped the Bears allow just 77.1 yards per
game, fourth best in the nation, and first in the Ivy League. First
team All-Ivy tackle David Howard and two-time second team All-Ivy
defensive end James Develin helped the Bears to their second Ivy
Championship in the last four years.
His 2005 Ivy Championship defensive line was led by All-American
and All-Ivy defensive tackle Pat Curran with 10 tackles for a loss
and four quarterback sacks as the Bears amassed 68 tackles for a
loss and 28 sacks as a team. In 2004, he built a formidable
group that helped lead the Ivy League in sacks, including the Ivy
League leader in tackles for a loss, defensive end James
Frazier.
McGrath came to Brown from the University of Massachusetts, where
he was the defensive coordinator for the Minutemen under Head Coach
Mark Whipple for two years. His defense at UMass ranked first
in total defense in the Atlantic 10 during the 1999 season.
Prior to coaching at Massachusetts, McGrath worked at the
University of Maine, where he spent five seasons (1995-1999) as
defensive coordinator. He was instrumental in the drastic
turnaround of Maine’s defensive fortunes, as the Black Bears
improved from 11th in the league in total defense in 1995 to fourth
in McGrath’s second season. In 1997, Maine led the Atlantic
10 in turnover margin (+12), including 19 interceptions. The Black
Bear defense also held opponents to a league-low 29 percent on
fourth-down conversions during the 1997 season. In 1998, Maine led
the league in sacks.
Prior to his time at Maine, McGrath spent 11 years as an assistant
coach at his alma mater, Boston University. He began as a part-time
assistant in 1984, coaching outside linebackers and assisting with
special teams. McGrath became a full-time assistant for the
Terriers in 1988 and coached the defensive line, then added the
responsibility of special teams coordinator in 1990. He also spent
three seasons as Boston University’s recruiting coordinator,
and coached linebackers for one year (1992). The Terriers advanced
to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs three times while McGrath was at
Boston University, including his last two seasons in 1993 and
1994.
McGrath is a 1981 graduate of Boston University where he received
a bachelor’s degree in education. McGrath earned four
letters as a member of the Terrier football team, where he played
with Bears’ defensive coordinator Mike Kelleher. He earned
first team All-Yankee Conference honors at linebacker during his
senior season in 1980, after leading Boston University to a record
of 9-2 and the conference title. The Terriers posted an overall
mark of 26-14-1 during McGrath’s four years on the team,
winning a pair of Yankee Conference championships.
A resident of Longmeadow, Mass., he and his wife, Kim, have three
children, Clayton, a member of the Brown Class of 2011, Sam, a
member of the Brown Class of 2012, and Hannah. Both boys play
football at Brown.
All-Ivy
Players Coached by McGrath
2003 Jesse Hawkins (First Team DE)
2004 James Frazier (Second Team DE)
2005 Pat Curran (First Team DT), James Frazier (Second Team
DE)
2007 Kai Brown (Second Team DE), James Develin (Second Team
DE)
2008 David Howard (First Team DT), James Develin (Second
Team DE)
