Damani Neal is entering his first season as the Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach at Livingstone College.
Before joining the Blue Bears, Neal spent the 2024 season at Shaw University, where he led the development of the safeties unit and served as a Special Teams Assistant. While at Shaw, he mentored standout players including All-Conference honoree and current FCS defensive back Noah Gibson, CIAA Freshman of the Week Dyllan Jones, and CIAA Defensive Back of the Week Raegzon Mackey.
Neal began his coaching career at Clayton High School (NC), serving as Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach under Head Coach Scott Chadwick. There, he coached two All-Conference athletes and guided a first-year safety to a Top 5 ranking in interceptions statewide.
As a student-athlete, Neal played at Duke University under the guidance of current Ohio State Safeties Coach Matt Guerrieri and current Penn State Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles. He was a consistent contributor on special teams and recorded a career-high 8 tackles and 1 sack in the 2018 Walk-On’s Independence Bowl against Temple University.
Neal earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Duke University in just three years and later completed a master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Florida in 2022.
He is married to his wife, Kincey, and they have a three-year-old daughter, Ivee. The Neal family is expecting a baby boy in December 2025.
