Michael C. G. "Mike" Neer, longtime successful men's basketball coach at the University of Rochester, will retire from his position effective at the end of the academic year.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Michael C. G. “Mike” Neer, longtime successful men’s basketball coach at the University of Rochester, will retire from his position effective at the end of the academic year.
Neer coached the Yellowjackets for 34 seasons, from 1976-77 to 2009-10. He retires with a career record of 563 wins, 326 losses ( 63.3% winning percentage ).
“It has been an honor and a privilege to lead teams representing the University of Rochester,” said Neer. “I am proud of our teams’ many accomplishments and of the manner in which we’ve competed.
“It has been equally gratifying to see our players continue their success in their personal and professional lives. In addition to these players, I want to express my appreciation and thanks to the countless administrators, faculty, and athletics department colleagues with whom I’ve worked since 1976.”
Rochester players distinguished themselves on and off the court and in the post-graduate world. Five players were honored as Academic All-Americans. His alumni have achieved success in the fields of education, law, medicine, business, finance, telecommunications, and coaching.
As a team, the Yellowjackets have been honored four times with the Sam Schoenfeld Award from the Western New York chapter of the College Basketball Officials Association. The Schoenfeld award is presented annually to a college for outstanding sportsmanship.
“I want to thank Mike for his 34 years of service to the University and our students,” said Athletics Director George VanderZwaag. “He is a true coaching legend and his legacy at Rochester will endure.”
On January 5, 2007, Neer earned his 500th career coaching victory. Five weeks after he earned that 500th win, the University presented Neer with a proclamation to celebrate his milestone win. The proclamation was presented by University President Joel Seligman, G. Robert Witmer ’59, then the chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees, and VanderZwaag.
“Mike Neer’s coaching record at Rochester has been truly remarkable,” said Seligman. “We wish him all the best in his retirement.”
Under Neer’s direction, Rochester played in the NCAA Division III championships 12 times. The Yellowjackets won the 1989-90 national championship, defeating DePauw University, 43-42. Rochester reached the Final Four on three other occasions – 1992, 2002, 2005 – and played in two more championship games ( 1992, 2005 ).
Rochester reached the Sweet 16 round three other times ( 2003, 2004, 2008 ) and the Elite 8 one other time ( 1991 ). Neer’s record in the NCAA Division III tournament is 25-11 ( 69.4% ). It is among the top 10 winning percentages in Division III tournament history.
He is Rochester’s winningest coach in men’s basketball and guided the Yellowjackets to the school’s 1,000th, 1,100th, and 1,200th all-time basketball victories.
Neer coached Rochester to four consecutive appearances in the NCAA Championships, from 2002-2005. Two of those teams reached the Final Four. The four-year record over that period was 97-17. It is the best four-year mark in men’s basketball history on the River Campus. The Class of 2005 was the first class to post four consecutive winning seasons ( 24-6, 23-4, 25-2, 25-5 ) as well as the first class to advance to the tournament every year. His 2007-08 team enjoyed a six-week run as the nation’s top-ranked team.
The National Association of Basketball Coaches ( NABC ) selected Neer as the NABC’s Kodak Division III Coach of the Year in 1990 after he led the Yellowjackets to the NCAA title.
Neer and his staff have been chosen as the University Athletic Association Coaching Staff of the Year three times – in 1991-92, in 2001-02, and in 2003-04. Rochester won three UAA championships – 1991-92, 2003-04, 2004-05.
Since 1984, five of Neer’s players have been named to the national Academic All-America team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America: Joe Augustine ( 1984, 1985 ), Tyler Zachem ( 1986 ), David Beck ( 1993 ), Darrin Hubert ( 1996 ), Seth Hauben ( 2005 ).
Neer is a 1970 graduate of Washington & Lee University with a B.A. in Sociology where he earned All-Virginia Small College honors. Neer had a summertime tryout with the NBA’s Cincinnati Royals. He received his naval commission after playing briefly in Europe. From 1972-76, Neer coached the plebe ( freshman ) team at the U.S. Naval Academy ( 41-18 record ).
He earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Rochester in 1988. He and his wife, Connie, are the parents of Tyler, 31, and Cary, 28.
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