Mike Neu agreed to be the head coach at Ball State University, his alma mater, and led the school to its first MAC championship since 1996, and its first MAC West Division title since 2008 during the 2020 season. In 2020, Coach Neu led Ball State to their first bowl win in program history in the Arizona Bowl, a final ranking of No. 23 in the AP Top 25, and a No. 23 ranking in the final Amway Coaches Poll; marking the first time the Cardinals finished a season in the national rankings at the FBS level, and the first time the program was ranked since December 2008. Coach Neu has nearly 20 years of coaching experience with stops in the National Football League, Division I FBS football, and the arena leagues. In the 2019 season, Ball State reclaimed the Bronze Stalk Trophy from Northern Illinois for the first time since 2008 and then proceeded to knock off eventual MAC champion Miami, to earn the Red Bird Rivalry Trophy.

Before returning to his alma matter, Ball State, Coach Neu was the Quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints. In 2014 under Neu’s guidance, quarterback Drew Brees was selected to his franchise-record eighth Pro Bowl as a Saint. Coach Neu believes preparation beats talent, which is the approach he takes when coaching his players, and has proven to be successful both in the NFL and college football. As a result of the intensive preparation Coach Neu preached, Brees led the league in completions (456), tied for first in passing yardage (4,952), ranked second in completion percentage (69.2) and tied for fifth in touchdown passes (33). In 2015, Brees once again led the NFL in passing yardage (4,870) while ranking second in completion percentage (68.3) and completions (428).

Before accepting the position as the quarterbacks’ coach for the Saints, Neu spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons coaching the quarterbacks at Tulane. In 2013, Neu helped guide Tulane to a 7-6 overall record and its first postseason appearance in 11 years at the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. From 2008-12, Neu worked on the New Orleans Saints’ player personnel staff. Before that, Neu spent four years as head coach of the AFL’s New Orleans VooDoo, where he compiled a 33-31 record and earned 2004 AFL Coach of the Year honors. During his first season at the helm, Neu led the team to a franchise-best 11-5 record, a division title and a playoff berth. In 2001 and 2002, Neu worked with the AFL’s Carolina Cobras. He served as the offensive coordinator in 2001 and was promoted to head coach in 2002. During his stint as head coach, Neu led the team to the quarterfinals of the AFL playoffs, including the team’s first-ever playoff win.

“Mike is a tremendous coach, person and family man. In a place like college football where itis as important to mold the lives of young men as it is to win football games, he is the perfect man for the job.”

Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints Quarterback

“I’d like to congratulate Mike Neu on becoming the head coach at Ball State University. At the same time, I truly thank him for the hard work, coaching and teaching with which he has provided our football program over the last two seasons. Mike is an outstanding football coach, I am happy for the opportunity that he, his wife, Charmin, and their family are about to take. I wish them all the best. The knowledge, passion and dedication that Mike has demonstrated in various roles over the course of his career has allowed him to develop into the type of leader that will be a valuable asset to the Ball State football program and community.”

Sean Payton
New Orleans Saints Head Football Coach

“I am extremely happy for Mike and the opportunity he has at Ball State. He not only is a great coach and teacher but a very close friend with a wonderful family who will be missed both personally and professionally. I have had the fortunate opportunity to work side-by-side with Mike and have no doubt that his knowledge, commitment to detail and his continuous strive for perfection will be a tremendous and valuable asset to the student-athletes within the Cardinals football program as well as the entire Ball State University community. I am confident that with Mike’s experience at all levels of the game – as a Cardinals student-athlete, a professional player, a talent evaluator, a position coach and a head coach – that the success he has experienced will benefit his program and those involved.”

Pete Carmichael
New Orleans Saints Offensive Coordinator