Lincoln Memorial University Athletics

With 15 years of service to Lincoln Memorial University, former assistant professor of sport management and faculty athletics representative Dr. Ahleasha McNeal transitioned to the department of intercollegiate athletics as associate athletic director for academic services and compliance on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. She also serves as the department’s senior woman administrator (SWA).
 
A 2004 graduate of the university and four-year women’s volleyball letter winner, McNeal spent 12 years as an instructor in the health, physical education and exercise science department before joining the business department in 2018. Playing a pivotal role in LMU Athletics’ academic success in recent years, McNeal took over as FAR prior to the 2015-16 academic year.
 
Since serving as a liaison between the university and the athletics department, McNeal has helped LMU student-athletes perform in the classroom at the highest level possible. Every year McNeal has been the FAR, the department-wide GPA has increased with LMU Athletics boasting a 3.32 GPA in 2020-21. Additionally, the Railsplitters set a school record for South Atlantic Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll selections for six consecutive years (2015-20) with LMU seeing 188 student-athletes placed on the league’s academic honor roll following the unique 2019-20 academic year.
 
In her associate athletic director role, McNeal handles day-to-day compliance efforts for the entire athletics department. In addition to NCAA and SAC rule interpretations, McNeal oversees initial and continuing student-athlete eligibility, the investigation and reporting of potential rules violations, transcript evaluations, on and off-campus recruiting activities, and student-athlete financial aid. Along with her compliance administrator duties, McNeal is responsible for the oversight and management of academic success and academic support services. She monitors and evaluates the progress toward degree status of all student-athletes.
 
As SWA, McNeal is the highest-ranking female in the athletics department and promotes meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of college sports.
 
Competing for the Lady Railsplitters from 2000-03, McNeal was one of the best volleyball players in program history. She still ranks second in career kills (1,324) and attack attempts (3,743), while fourth in digs (1,457) and points (1,573.5). McNeal is also among the top 10 in school history in kills per set (2.91), service aces (150), digs per set (3.2), points per set (3.46), sets played (455) and matches played (133).
 
Ahleasha attained her Bachelor of Science in athletic training and physical education from LMU before earning a Master of Science in exercise science from Arkansas State in 2006. While in Jonesboro, Arkansas, McNeal served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer and graduate assistant for the health, physical education and sport sciences (HPESS) department. She added a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in sports management from the United States Sports Academy in 2017.
 
McNeal resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her two daughters, Lorali and Skylar.