Damani Neal enters his first season on the Quincy University football coaching staff in 2026 as special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach.
Neal comes to Quincy after serving as special teams coordinator, defensive pass game coordinator, and defensive backs coach at Livingstone College. During the 2025 season, Livingstone led the CIAA in passing defense while ranking 17th nationally in passing yards allowed per game. The Blue Bears also ranked first in the conference and 28th nationally in net punting while finishing 22nd in NCAA Division II in yards allowed per completion. Under Neal's guidance, defensive back Malachi Adkins earned All-CIAA honors and was named a Draft Diamonds HBCU Freshman All-American.
Prior to Livingstone, Neal coached the safeties and assisted with special teams at Shaw University before serving as safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Clayton High School. During the 2024 season, his units ranked fourth nationally in blocked punts and 21st in blocked kicks while helping Noah Gibson and Diego Cocoa-Hernandez earn All-Conference recognition.
A native of Sterling, Virginia, Neal played safety at Duke University from 2017-20. He was a key contributor on all four core special teams units throughout his career and led the Blue Devils in tackles during the 2018 Walk-On's Independence Bowl.
Neal earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University in 2020 before completing his Master of Arts degree at the University of Florida in 2022.
