STATESBORO – Georgia Southern Director of Athletics Jared Benko announced today that Olympic gold medalist and current Tennessee assistant coach David Neville has been named the head coach of the Georgia Southern Track & Field and Cross Country programs.
Neville comes to Statesboro from Rocky Top, where he spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach for sprints, hurdles and relays at the University of Tennessee.
"I am very excited to have David, his wife Arial, his daughter, Acaia, and his son, David, join our Georgia Southern Family!" said Director of Athletics Jared Benko. "David comes highly-recommended from some of the elite track and field coaches in the country. David's experience at Tennessee over the past five seasons, coupled with three years as a head coach at Taylor University, uniquely qualifies him to succeed in this role. Individually, David was an elite athlete and experienced a lot of success as both a collegiate and professional athlete. It is through these experiences that he will position all of our track and field student-athletes for success. The best days of Georgia Southern Track and Field and Cross Country programs are ahead!"
Neville guided Tennessee athletes to 48 All-America honors and eight program records across sprints, hurdles and relays. Mustaqeem Williams stands out as a three-time SEC Champion in the 200m dash. Nathan Strother (400m) and Shania Collins (100m) also set program records under Neville's guidance in 2018.
"I am extremely blessed and honored to become the new Head Coach for Track and Field and Cross Country at Georgia Southern University," Neville said. "I would like to thank Jared Benko for seeing my passion and giving me an opportunity to build something special in Statesboro. The vision that he has for this program is exciting and invigorating, and I am eager to begin working with him and the wonderful staff. Working for a department that is driven to cultivate excellence and champions both on and off the track completely aligns with my purpose when working with student-athletes, and that's why I am proud to be an Eagle. Hail Southern!"
Joella Lloyd twice earned All-America honors for the Vols during the 2022 season, taking first-team honors in the 200m in a time of 22.80, while also taking second-team honors in the 100m in a time of 11.29. The Vols also earned honorable mention All-America honors in the 4x400m relay. The men's team took third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, its highest finish since 2002. The men's 4x100m relay team earned first-team All-American honors and Favour Ashe earned first-team honors in the 100m. The Vols also placed third at the Men's NCAA Indoor Championships as well in 2022.
In 2021, Lloyd took home the SEC 60m title from the indoor conference meet and tied the program record ( 7.15). Lloyd finished sixth at the NCAA Indoor Championships to earn first-team All-America honors and went on to represent Antigua and Barbuda in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming just the third Lady Vol track and field Olympian to run the 100m at the Games.
On the men's side, the 4x400m Relay quartet of Sebastian Cooper, Christopher Bailey, Emmanuel Bynum and Jonathan Sacoor won the Indoor SEC conference title with a then world-leading mark of 3:04.08. At the NCAA Indoor Championships, the foursome placed third to capture first-team All-America honors.
Prior to his arrival in Knoxville, Neville served as head coach of the track & field program at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, for three seasons. He produced 106 NAIA indoor and outdoor national championship qualifiers, while the Trojans broke 30 school records and earned 30 NAIA All-American honors.
A native of Merrillville, Indiana, Neville enjoyed a distinguished professional track a career that was highlighted by a gold medal for the United States in the men's 4x400 and a bronze in the men's 400 meters at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Neville also won gold in the 400 meters at the 2008 Indoor USA Championships and earned bronze in the 400 meters at the 2006 USA Championships and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Neville was a six-time Big Ten champion and five-time NCAA All-American at Indiana University from 2004-06. He set program records for the 200 meters, 400 meters, 4x400 and distance medley relay and was named the 2004 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Neville opted to forgo his senior season and signed a professional contract with Team Nike. He completed his bachelor's degree in music education at Indiana in 2007.
Neville and his wife, Arial, are parents to a daughter, Acaia, and a son, David.
Southern Director of Athletics Jared Benko announced today that Olympic gold medalist and current Tennessee assistant coach David Neville has been named the head coach of the Georgia Southern Track & Field and Cross Country programs.
THE NEVILLE FILE COACHING EXPERIENCE
• 2014-17: Taylor University, Head Coach
• 2017-22: Tennessee, Assistant Coach
• 2022-present: Georgia Southern, Head Coach
COACHING BY THE NUMBERS
• 48 NCAA All-America Honors
• 30 NAIA All-America Honors
• 34 Program Records
• 5 SEC Individual Championships
• 1 Olympian
CAREER COMPETITIVE HIGHLIGHTS
• Olympic Gold Medalist (2008 Beijing, 4x400)
• Olympic Bronze Medalist (2008 Beijing, 400m)
• 2008 USATF Indoor Champion (400m)
• Six-time Big Ten Champion
• Five-time NCAA All-American
• Four-time Indiana School Record Holder (200m, 400m, 4x400, DMR)
• 2004 Big Ten Freshman of the Year
