The winningest coach in Blackburn College history in any sport, 2023-24 will mark the 26th season that Mike Neal has been head baseball coach at Blackburn College. 

Neal comes into the 2023-24 school year with a strong history. 

Success was seen even in Neal’s first season at Blackburn in 1999, when the Beavers tied the school record for victories. Since then, Neal’s teams have set three new records for wins.

Prior to his run at Blackburn, Neal served as head coach at Millikin University from 1992-97. He has also coached the Bloomington Bobcats for seven summers between 1991-99, including a CABA National Championship in 1998.  In 1994, Neal served as coach of the Decatur Blues of the Central Illinois Collegiate League, one of the top collegiate summer leagues in the nation. 

In addition to his duties as baseball coach, Neal is the sports information director at Blackburn and an instructor of physical education.

During Neal's tenure, the Beavers have gained some monumental victories in the program's history.

2003 - Defeated Southern Illinois University Carbondale, 5-3 for Blackburn's first ever victory against a Divison I program.  Blackburn Hall of Famer Sean Courtney pitched a complete game for Blackburn on that Saturday in Memphis, Tennessee.

2004 -Defeated #1 seed Illinois Wesleyan 6-3 for the college's first and only victory in an NCAA tournament contest in any sport.  Kyle Rensing pitched a complete game for Blackburn.

2005 - Defeated Westminster College 11-4 in SLIAC Tournament for team's 28th victory which set the school record for most victories in a season.

Neal has worked the past 20 plus years as a camp coordinator at the Vanderbilt University Baseball Summer and Winter Camps.