McNeill was on the Texas Tech staff the last 10 seasons. He replaces Skip Holtz, who left the Pirates to take over the head coaching job at South Florida.

The Executive Committee of the ECU Board of Trustees, acting for the full board, approved the appointment of McNeill and the outline of his contract in a conference call meeting Thursday. The board will consider McNeill's contract at a regular meeting next month.

The 51-year-old McNeill starred as a four-year letterman from 1976-80 on East Carolina's football team as a defensive back. He was the team captain for two seasons and helped lead the school to the Southern Conference Championship in 1976 and an Independence Bowl berth in 1978.

Most recently, McNeill had been the interim head coach at Texas Tech in the wake of Mike Leach's firing. He served as assistant head coach, special teams coordinator, and linebackers coach for the Red Raiders.

"Coach McNeill's interview revealed his strong commitment to doing things the right way and his love of coaching young men to grow in every part of their lives," ECU athletic director Terry Holland said. "His excitement for what ECU football can become in the future was contagious and his deep and abiding appreciation for what East Carolina University has meant to him and his family was truly moving."