Saint Augustine's University

Dorothy Neal is the Head Softball Coach and Senior Woman Administrator at Saint Augustine's University. She has been a student-athlete or coach on campus for more than 30 years.

An advocate for women’s sports, Neal is an influential figure in the CIAA due to her keen insight and experience. During her illustrious career, she was the president of the CIAA bowling and softball coaches associations. She is a member of the Women Bowling Coaches Association, Women Softball Coaches Association and NFCA National Fast-pitch Coaches Association.

Neal was head softball coach at Saint Augustine’s University from 1990-2011 before returning to the position in 2017. 

The Lady Falcons have experienced outstanding success during Neal's second reign as head coach. They captured the CIAA Southern Division title in 2018 and earned the CIAA Team Highest Softball Grade Point Average award in 2017 and 2020.

Under Neal's leadership, SAU has ranked among the nation's best hitting teams in Division II. In 2017, the Lady Falcons won the Division II national crown for most triples per game. That same year, SAU ranked fourth in the country among DII teams in batting average, scoring and doubles per game, and fifth in slugging percentage. 

Makayla August was the DII individual national champion in triples per game and Jasmine Rios ranked second in the nation in 2017.

In 2018, the Lady Falcons repeated as DII national champions in triples per game. They also ranked second in batting average and doubles per game, fourth in slugging percentage and fifth in scoring. August and Rios won DII national titles in doubles per game and triples per game, respectively, and Marley Parker ranked second in batting average and toughest to strike out, fourth in slugging percentage and fifth in RBIs. 

That same year, August and Parker were named Fastpitch News Softball All-Americans. Parker was also selected to the Collegiate Commissioners Association All-America team. In addition to coaching two All-Americans, Neal has coached six All-CIAA selections during her second tenure as SAU head softball coach.

Prior to her first tenure as softball head coach, Neal was an assistant softball coach for five years including 1989 when the Lady Falcons won the CIAA championship.

Neal was the head coach of the women’s bowling team from 2002 to 2019. Her teams usually finished among the top eight squads in the CIAA and near the top of the division standings.

 
She was the assistant women's basketball coach from 1985 to 2000. It was during that period the Lady Falcons’ basketball team experienced some of their greatest success.

Working under head coach Bev Downing, Neal helped lead the Lady Falcons to five 20-win seasons. The Lady Falcons qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1992 and 1993 and led the nation in scoring in 1989 (85.1 points per game). In 1992, the Lady Falcons averaged 90.9 points per game which is the 10^th highest team scoring average in Division II history. Neal coached 14 All-CIAA basketball players.

Neal arrived at then-Saint Augustine’s College as a talented student-athlete. A high school standout from Wilson, N.C., Neal played three years on the women’s basketball team. She graduated with a B.S. degree in human performance and wellness in 1985.

In high school, Neal was an all-state interior player who led Elm City and Wilson Fike to state championships. She initially attended the University of South Carolina before coming to Saint Augustine’s University.

Camping and fishing are Neal’s hobbies. She is the proud parent of daughter Angela.