Sam MacNeil

Hugh Samuel MacNeil (April 5, 1925 – October 30, 2008) was an American basketball player and coach for the Cornell Big Red men's basketball team, as well as a politician who was a member of the New York State Assembly.

Sam MacNeil

Biographical details
Born	(1925-04-05)April 5, 1925 Le Roy, New York, U.S.
Died	October 30, 2008(2008-10-30) (aged 83) Franklin, Tennessee
Playing career
Basketball
1949–1951	Cornell
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1954–1959	Cornell (Freshmen)
1959–1968	Cornell
Head coaching record
Overall	139–79
Member of the New York State Assembly
In office January 1, 1979 – December 31, 1988
Preceded by	Gary A. Lee
Succeeded by	Martin A. Luster
Constituency	128th district (1979–1982) 125th district (1983–1988)
Personal details
Political party	Republican

Playing career

MacNeil was born in Le Roy, New York and grew up in Williamsville, New York, where he was a three sport athlete in high school. During World War II, he was a United States Merchant Marine radio communications officer in the Pacific Theatre. After the war, he spent one semester at Buffalo State College before transferring to Cornell University.^[1] He was a guard for the Big Red basketball team from 1949 to 1951 and played a major role on the 1950-51 squad that won a school record 20 games. He was also a member of the Cornell Big Red baseball team during the 1950 and 1951 seasons.^[2]

Coaching

After graduation, he taught high school in Geneseo, New York. In 1954, he returned to Cornell as the freshmen men's basketball coach. He was promoted to head coach in 1959. During his tenure, Cornell did not have a losing record and scored upsets over Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio State. His 1964–65 team won a school-record 15 consecutive games. In his nine seasons as head coach, MacNeil compiled a record of 139 wins and 79 losses.^[2]

Politics

After leaving coaching, MacNeil owned a small business and pursued a career in politics. He was a member of the Tompkins County Board of Representatives from 1970 to 1978 and was chairman of the board from 1976 to 1978. From 1979 to 1988, MacNeil was a member of the New York State Assembly.^[1]

Later life

In 1989, MacNeil retired to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. In 2004, he moved to Franklin, Tennessee to be closer to his children. He died on October 30, 2008 at the age of 83. He was survived by his wife of 60 years and four children.^[1]