Ruffin McNeill Fired by East Carolina: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

After six years at the helm, Ruffin McNeill was relieved of his duties as head football coach at East Carolina on Friday.  

The school announced he has been removed from the position effective immediately, and athletic director Jeff Compher explained the rationale behind the decision: "After deliberate evaluation, the decision has been made to move our football program in a different direction with new leadership. We are appreciative of the hard work, dedication and contributions Coach McNeill and his staff have made to both East Carolina University and our community."

While the Pirates struggled to a 5-7 record in 2015, McNeill led them to at least eight wins each year from 2012-2014, including 10 victories and a bowl win in 2013.

With a career record of 42-34 at East Carolina, Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports was among those who didn't expect the 57-year-old former Pirates defensive back to get the ax:

"

ECU fired Ruffin McNeil. He won 26 games from 2012-14, but went 5-7 this year. Somewhat surprising.

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 4, 2015"

It is unclear whom East Carolina will pursue to replace McNeill, but Compher made it clear he wants the next head coach to make the Pirates big-time players in the American Athletic Conference: "Our expectations are to compete for championships. Our goal will be to move expediently in the search process, and based on the outstanding support of our Pirate fan base and enhanced visibility in the American Athletic Conference, I am confident our candidate pool will be deep."

The AAC is undoubtedly on the rise with the likes of Houston, Temple, Navy and Memphis all enjoying strong years that saw them receive Top 25 recognition.

East Carolina became an also-ran by finishing fifth in the East Division, so the decision-makers felt the need to shake things up.

It may turn out to be the change East Carolina needed to get back on track, but the school will be hard-pressed to find someone as committed to and ingrained in Pirates football as McNeill considering his long history with the university.

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