FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
BOSTON — Longtime Northeastern University baseball head coach Neil McPhee announced today (Aug. 6) that he will retire following the 2014 season, bringing to a close the longest head-coaching tenure in Northeastern Athletics history.
McPhee, a standout student-athlete at Northeastern in both baseball and ice hockey, took the helm of the NU program before the 1986 season and quickly turned the Huskies into perennial contenders. In 28 seasons, he has amassed 697 career wins, which rank in the top 50 nationally among active coaches and are the most by any coach of any sport in Northeastern history. He was inducted into the Northeastern University Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1980 for his achievements as a student-athlete.
“After 28 years of a wonderful coaching experience at my alma mater, it is time to transition the program into the next generation of Huskies baseball,” McPhee said.
McPhee has guided the Huskies to an impressive 19 winning seasons and postseason appearances in 16 of the last 22 years. Last season, he led Northeastern to a 31-26 record, a Beanpot title, and an appearance in the semifinal of the CAA tournament. During his tenure, NU has captured five conference championships and qualified for three NCAA tournaments.
“Neil has been a constant at Northeastern for nearly five decades and has achieved success both as an athlete and as a coach,” Northeastern Director of Athletics Peter Roby said. “He has mentored hundreds of student-athletes and has great pride in Northeastern. We appreciate everything he has done for the university and for our baseball program.”
Of the many student-athletes mentored by McPhee, 29 have signed with Major League teams, including first-round draft picks Adam Ottavino and Carlos Pena. All told, four of McPhee’s former players have seen action in a Major League game, with Mike Glavine and Luke Carlin joining Ottavino and Pena.
Ottavino made strides as a Cardinals prospect in 2010, becoming the first Northeastern player to pitch in the majors. He is having a breakout season this year with the Colorado Rockies. Pena had a career year in 2007, during which he was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year and received the American League Silver Slugger Award at first base for the Tampa Bay Rays. He won the 2008 Gold Glove Award at first base and, in 2009, tied for the American League lead in home runs with 39, while being named to his first American League All-Star team. Pena is the highest drafted player from Northeastern in any sport.
McPhee has coached 1,324 games at Northeastern, with a career record that stands at 697-623-4.
The NU skipper will return for his final season in 2014 as the Huskies look to reach the CAA tournament for a second consecutive year.
