Kevin MacNeill is entering his first season with the black and gold as the Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator, and Recruiting Coordinator.
MacNeill comes to Waterloo with a championship pedigree, as he's been on staff for six Yates Cup championship teams and two Vanier Cup national champions. The London native is coming off a five-year stint with the powerhouse Western Mustangs, where he helped the Mustangs win the 2021 Vanier Cup and three straight Yates Cups as the Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Line Coach, and Recruiting Coordinator.
Before his time at Western, MacNeill was the primary architect of the dominant Guelph Gryphons defense of the early 2010s. Under MacNeill's stewardship as Defensive Coordinator from 2010-2015, Guelph's defensive unit was amongst the best in the nation, helping lead the Gryphons to a Yates Cup title in 2015. MacNeill also has experience at the helm of a U SPORTS program, leading the Gryphons as their Head Coach from 2016-2018.
MacNeill is no stranger to the Waterloo region, as he was a two-time OUA all-star, second-team All-Canadian, and Team MVP with the Laurier Golden Hawks during his playing days. He was also on staff for Laurier's 2005 Vanier Cup title team, before a two-year stint coaching with the UBC Thunderbirds. His experience also stretches to the international game, having served as a positional coach and Defensive Coordinator for Canada's national U-19 team. At the community level, he has held various positions within the Ontario Varsity Football League (winning Coach of the Year in 2006).
Kevin lists among his coaching highlights, in addition to the relationships he has developed with his players, his experiences coaching OUA President's Trophy, J.P Metras Trophy, and Russ Jackson Award Winners, and witnessing the successful professional football careers of several of his former players.
MacNeill holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (Wilfrid Laurier University) and a Master of Arts in Leadership (University of Guelph). Kevin and his wife Monica, who currently serves in UWaterloo’s Department of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, live in Woodstock with their three children: Hailey, Stephen and Evie.
