Gordon McNeill
Men's Basketball
1992 – Marshall - Arts & Humanities, History
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McNeill posing for his head shot in 1992.
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UC San Diego alumnus Gordon McNeill (’92) is the epitome of a successful Triton Alumni Athlete. McNeill was a top performer on and off the court for UC San Diego Men’s Basketball, spent a season playing professional basketball in Australia, and now happily serves as the President of the well-respected Sage Hill School in Newport Beach.
Gordon McNeill’s basketball career began in his childhood driveway. McNeill adored basketball from the start, and when UC San Diego assistant coach Jack Shawcroft visited his team at Trabuco Hills High School, he immediately recognized McNeill’s skill and potential. After that, head coach Tom Marshall wasted no time in making sure McNeill was recruited to UC San Diego. McNeill says that choosing to attend UC San Diego was one of the best decisions he has made: “The academics were great, but my experience was much more than that.” He cherishes the memories of “my friends, the camaraderie on the team, and being part of something bigger than myself.” McNeill had a large impact on the court, graduating UC San Diego with over 1,000 points scored during his four years as a Triton. Years later, he was inducted into the prestigious UC San Diego Men’s Basketball “Ring of Honor”, recognizing those former student-athletes and coaches who excelled at the highest level while at UC San Diego.
Playing professionally in Australia was also an incredible experience for McNeill -but in a different way. “It was a great experience, but it wasn’t what I expected,” he says. The playing was different and the competition level was not the same as it was at UC San Diego, but McNeill had the opportunity to train and spend time with players much older than him, many with wives, children, and other day jobs. This taught him a great deal: “The basketball was a step down competition wise, but a step up in terms of life skills.”
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McNeill catipulted his career at UCSD to a successful professional stint in
an Australian basketball league.
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After his invaluable time in Australia, McNeill worked for a computer company. It paid well, but he knew that was not where he wanted to be. He always loved basketball and being around young people, so he started night school and earned his teaching credential. Afterwards, he worked at Corona Del Mar High School for three years until he made the transition to Sage Hill School, where he has worked for 14 years and currently serves as President.
McNeill enjoys his job as Sage Hill’s President, but it does not come without its challenges. He says one of the most difficult aspects of his position is mobilizing different groups towards a common goal: “Students and parents and faculty all have different wants and needs,” he explains. “I have to find a common thread even if they might have disparate wants.” Luckily, McNeill can draw from his basketball background. He describes his job as being similar to that of a point guard: navigating and understanding what everyone needs at the same time, and coordinating them in a way that leads to success. Leadership is a crucial skill that develops especially well through athletics, and Gordon McNeill’s life is a perfect testimony.
Throughout all of his successes, McNeill remembers one place that had a profound impact on his life: “I’m fully aware that if I didn’t go to UCSD and meet the guys that I met and participate on the team, I wouldn’t be who I am today,” he says. McNeill also met his wife at UC San Diego. This is why he makes it a priority to give back to the UC San Diego community: “It is important to me to help someone else have that same experience.”
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McNeill (pictured center) now serves as President of the
Sage Hill School in Newport Beach, California.
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As far as his experience goes, McNeill’s favorite moments from UC San Diego come not necessarily from a game or an impressive shot, but from the day-to-day moments with his teammates. “I remember more those hard practices that we went through, and how it bonded us as a team,” he says. Memories of tough training, including running up and down the infamous Black’s Beach hill, only to be followed by fun sessions of bodysurfing with his teammates, stick out as some of his best times. Now, as an alumnus, McNeill enjoys staying connected: “I read the newsletters; I like to see the growth of the program,” he says. “(Being a Triton Alumni Athlete) gives me a sense of pride. I’m part of a big family.”
Alumni Spotlight is written by student-athlete Lauren Iannetta (’17), a history major from Eleanor Roosevelt College. She is a second year on the women’s rowing team. If you are interested in sharing your Triton Alumni Athlete story, please contact Danielle Boyle Melman at daboyle@ucsd.edu.
Previous Alumni Spotlights:
Lauren Segars - 2008
Shane Poppen - 2009
Sherine Ebadi - 1998
Brett Stuckey - 2009
Richard Freer - 1975
Christina Guintu - 2001
Toya Ellis - 1991
