David Neville is an Olympic gold medalist, elite sprint coach, and transformational leader in collegiate track & field. With experience competing and coaching at the highest levels of the sport, David has built a reputation for developing championship athletes, cultivating winning cultures, and helping student-athletes maximize their potential both on and off the track.

A former professional 400-meter sprinter, David represented Team USA at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where he earned:

•  Olympic Gold Medal – 4x400m Relay

•  Olympic Bronze Medal – 400m Dash

During his professional career, David recorded personal bests of:

• 400m – 44.61

• 200m – 20.39

• 100m – 10.86

David transitioned into coaching after his professional career and quickly became one of the nation’s rising sprint coaches.

Taylor University

Before entering the SEC coaching ranks, David served as Head Coach at Taylor University, where he helped rebuild the track & field program into a nationally competitive NAIA program. During his tenure:

• 106 athletes qualified for NAIA National Championships

• 30 school records were broken

• 30 athletes earned NAIA All-American honors

His leadership and athlete development helped establish Taylor as one of the fastest-growing programs in the conference.  

University of Tennessee

David later joined University of Tennessee as Assistant Coach for Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays. Over five seasons on Rocky Top, he coached numerous elite athletes and helped elevate Tennessee back into national prominence.

Under his guidance:

• Tennessee athletes earned 48 All-America honors

• Athletes set 8 program records

• Multiple SEC Champions were developed

• Tennessee’s men’s team earned top-3 NCAA finishes

• Olympic-level athletes emerged from the program

David coached standout performers including SEC champions, NCAA finalists, and Olympians while helping build one of the premier sprint groups in the nation.  

Georgia Southern University

Currently, David serves as Head Coach of Track & Field and Cross Country at Georgia Southern University. Since taking over the program, he has continued building a culture centered on excellence, discipline, faith, and competitive growth.

In his first season:

• Multiple school top-10 performances were achieved

• Several school records were broken

• Georgia Southern posted one of its best conference finishes since joining the Sun Belt Conference

David’s coaching philosophy blends elite-level performance with mentorship, leadership development, and purpose-driven coaching, helping athletes succeed in competition and in life.  

Coaching Philosophy

David believes great coaching goes beyond performance. His mission is to develop complete athletes — mentally, physically, and spiritually — while creating environments where athletes can compete with confidence, joy, and purpose. His experience as an Olympian gives him firsthand insight into what it takes to perform at the highest level and inspire others to pursue greatness.