Coach Neef is in his second season as the Assistant Athletic Performance Coach and head men's and women's powerlifting coach.
In his first season at the helm of the OU men's and women's powerlifting program, the Braves produced the most successful national championship run in program history with eight top 10 finishes. Michael Reffner made it to the medal stand, placing third and earning All-American status. Ottawa set 17 new PR marks at the national collegiate.Â
Neef spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons as a graduate assistant with the Braves. Before returning to OU in August of 2021, Neef spent three months starting the powerlifting program at East Central University. In his short time in Ada, Okla., Neef recruited 10 student athletes to the program.
Neef was a graduate assistant with the OU powerlifting and athletic performance programs from 2019 to 2021. As a member of the athletic performance staff, he worked with cheer & dance, cross country, esports, bowling, football and baseball.
In Neef’s two years as a graduate assistant, he coached 18 USA Powerlifting Collegiate National qualifiers and had one athlete, Bryana Houser, finish fifth in the 84+ weight class.
Neef will have the new Braves Athletic Performance Center to help build the OU powerlifting program. The 9,100-square-foot BAPC is under construction in the heart of campus, and is slated for completion in January 2022. The state-of-the-art athletic performance facility is for all student athletes, and will be equipped with 30 lifting racks, free weights, cardio equipment, cable machines, indoor turf, and a dedicated area with specialized equipment for the OU powerlifting teams.
Before coming to OU, Neef was the Intern Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He designed, implemented, and supervised sport specific strength and conditioning programs. He co-assisted with programing, instructed, and demonstrated the execution of proper running mechanics and weight lifting techniques with men’s soccer. Neef is a USAW Level 1 Coach, has his USAPL, is CPR/AED certified and is currently finish up his certification to become a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
Neef was a four-year letterman on the football field for Hardin-Simmons. He graduated from HSU in May of 2019 with a bachelor of science in health science. Neef earned his master’s degree in education from Ottawa University.
