Neil McCarthy

Neil McCarthy (1940-2021)

Teams coached: Weber State Wildcats, New Mexico State Aggies
Weber State record: 205-105 (.661)
New Mexico State record: 226-111 (.671) **
Overall record: 431-216 (.666) **

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1985-1997 New Mexico State
1975-1985 Weber State
1971-1975 Weber State (asst)

Neil McCarthy Facts

  • Neil McCarthy
  • Born May 18, 1940
  • Died September 18, 2021
  • Hometown: Vallejo, California
  • Alma Mater: California State University, Sacramento (BA, 1965)
  • Played at Sacramento State under Hall of Fame head coach Everett Shelton
  • Started his coaching career at the prep level, spending five seasons as varsity coach at St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS in Vallejo, CA
  • Hired in 1971 to join Gene Visscher‘s staff as an assistant coach at Weber State
  • Took over as head coach with 12 games remaining in the 1974-75 season, remaining in that role for an additional 10 seasons
  • Left Weber in 1985 to become the head coach at New Mexico State, a position he would hold for 12 seasons
    • Won three** Big West titles and two Big West Tournaments during that tenure
    • Reached the NIT twice and the NCAA Tournament five** times
    • Tenure ended in scandal, surrounding academic misconduct on the part of one of McCarthy’s assistant coaches
      • McCarthy was not directly implicated but was held responsible for failing to monitor and was fired in 1997
      • Had three NCAA Tournament appearances vacated (3 wins & 3 losses), including a trip to the 1992 Sweet Sixteen, as well as the entire 1995-96 season (19-9 record) and lost their share of the 1996 Big West title
  • Passed away in 2021 at the age of 81 at his home in Utah; survived by his wife, Vivian, his two sons and one daughter (with late wife, Lynn)

Neil McCarthy Coaching Tree

  • Ben Howland (Mississippi State, UCLA, Pittsburgh, Northern Arizona)
  • Dick Hunsaker (Utah Valley, Utah, Manchester, Ball State)

 

** Listed records and accomplishments for this coach do not include wins or appearances later vacated by the NCAA