| Lorenzo Neely |
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Lorenzo Neely, a former player for Ben Braun at Eastern Michigan, has re-joined his college coach as an assistant on the California staff.
Neely, who arrived on campus in June, brings eight years of collegiate coaching experience to the Golden Bear program, including stints in the Big Ten and Mid-American conferences
Neely gained his first college assignment as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan during the 1996-97 season. He remained at his alma mater for two years, helping the Eagles to the 1998 MAC championship and the NCAA Tournament.
Neely then moved to Ann Arbor, where he was an assistant at Michigan for two seasons, including an NIT campaign in 2000. He spent the following two years at Western Michigan and the 2002-03 season at Wayne State.
One of the best players in Eastern Michigan history, the 6-0 Neely played for Braun for four seasons from 1988-91. He started 115 of 124 career games and finished his career as the fourth-leading scorer in school history with 1,528 points and all-time leader in assists with 521.During his tenure as a player, the Eagles posted a cumulative 84-40 mark and set a school record with 26 wins in 1991.
As a freshman in 1998, he led his team to its first MAC championship and NCAA Tournament. In 1991 as a senior, he helped EMU to another conference title, as well as to the NCAA Sweet 16 with wins over Mississippi State and Penn State in the tournament..
The MAC Freshman of the Year in 1988, Neely was selected first team All-MAC as a senior and second team all-league his junior season. He paced the Eagles in scoring in 1989 with 13.1 ppg, and again in 1990 with 13.4 ppg.
After graduating, Neely participated in training camps with the NBA's Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers before taking his first coaching position as associate head coach and head junior varsity coach at Redford High School in Detroit from 1992-95.
Neely, a Detroit native, received his bachelor's degree in communications and business management from Eastern Michigan in 1991. He and his wife, Tina, have one daughter, Raven.
According to Coach Braun ...
"Coach Neely brings a strong work ethic and competitive edge to our program. He has a determined will to succeed and teaches the game like he played - solid fundamentally and sacrificing to make those around him better."
