Leon Neal joins the men’s basketball staff as an assistant coach for the 2019-20 season.
Regarded as one of the most prolific names in Evangel (Mo.) University basketball history, Neal brings a wealth of experience to the Yellow Jackets as both a player and coach.
Neal most recently spent 35 years as a coach at Evangel, the last 24 as head coach of the women’s program. He guided the Crusaders to over 400 victories with nine NAIA National Tournament appearances featuring two semifinals and eight Heart of America Conference championships.
He was named conference Women’s Coach of the Year six times.
Neal served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Evangel from 1986 through 1997. The Crusaders won 188 games during that timespan with one NAIA National Tournament appearance.
Neal played two seasons at Evangel from 1976-78 becoming the school’s first NAIA All-American in any sport. He scored 782 points during his senior campaign which ranks as the second-highest total for a single season in school history.
The Los Angeles native began his collegiate playing career at Cuesta Junior College in California where he was a Junior College All-American.
Neal went on to play one season for Athletes in Action before enjoying a seven-year professional career in Portugal where he averaged 24 points per game and earned playoff MVP honors.
Neal is a member of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the Springfield (Mo.) Sports Hall of Fame, and the Evangel Athletics Hall of Fame.
Leon and his wife, Dawn, who was his assistant coach at Evangel, have one daughter NaTasha (Moore), who was a four-time NAIA All-American while playing under her father.
In 2010, Evangel retired #44 in honor of Neal and his daughter, who both wore the number during their playing careers for the Crusaders.
