The University of Mary Marauders

Neil MacDannald
Outstanding Athlete
Football 1995-96

A record-setting wide receiver and an NAIA All-American, Neil MacDannald was a threat to reach the end zone every time he touched the ball. After a great football career at Modesto Junior College, Marauders head coach Tom Shea chose to work hard on recruiting Neil in order to hook him up with the arm of fellow 2009 Marauders Hall of Fame member Paul Cronin.

Neil’s legacy began quickly in the fall of 1995 as his receiving ability helped the Marauders to a record of 11-2 overall and 5-1 in the NDCAC while advancing to the NAIA Final Four for the first time in school history. The 11 wins and trip to the semi-finals equals the 1999 squad for the best marks in school history. The Marauders opened the NAIA playoffs with a 14-8 road win at Dickinson State University to avenge the team’s only loss of the season before defeating the University of Sioux Falls 42-17 at home. The team fell just short of the championship game, losing 48-7 at Central Washington to a team led by long-time NFL quarterback Jon Kitna. Neil finished his junior season with 56 catches for 812 yards.

An even more spectacular senior season followed in 1996 for Neil. He caught 76 passes for what remains a school-record 1,202 yards. Neil’s most spectacular game of the season came in a 35-0 win at Mayville State University when he gained 254 yards receiving and caught three touchdown passes to set single game school records. He also caught three touchdowns against Rock Mountain College the week before to total six touchdowns scored in a two-game span! Neil’s efforts earned him NAIA honorable mention All-American and All-NDCAC honors as the Marauders finished 7-4 overall and 5-1 in the NDCAC to share a conference championship with Valley City State, who U-Mary defeated during the season, and advanced to the NAIA playoffs.

For his career, Neil caught 132 passes for 2,020 yards, both marks third all-time in Marauders history. He is fifth in receiving touchdowns with 18.

Neil earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Mary. He is a math teacher and an assistant football coach at Manteca High School in Manteca, CA. He lives in Salida, CA, with his wife, former Marauders student-athlete Sarah O’Donnell, and their children, Kaylee, six years old, and Kaden, three.