Wall of Fame Class of 2021

Ned McNelis was a fixture in the MMI Department of Athletics, serving as a volunteer assistant coach for 12 years between 2004-2010 and 2015-2021. From 2004-2005, Ned worked with the Preppers mid-school boys’ basketball team under Head Coach Tony Kiddish. Between 2006-2010 he was a volunteer assistant for the boys’ varsity basketball team under Head Coach Joe Flanagan and for the baseball team guided by Head Coach Emmitt Thomas. During that time, he also helped out with the girls’ mid-school basketball team. After a quick break, Ned returned to action at MMI from 2015-2021. He again worked with the mid-school baseball, basketball and varsity basketball programs. He and his wife, past MMI Board member Florie McNelis, are the parents of Connor ‘10, Audrey, and Ryan ’21, all of whom benefitted from his coaching efforts at MMI.

Ned learned from his mother, a teacher, that athletics was important, but academics was the key to success. He always believed that athletics was complimentary to academics and he always emphasized to the players that their schoolwork at MMI was paramount. In discussions, he always asked the players how they were doing in school first and then followed up talking about the game. His coaching style included explaining and demonstrating skills in a way designed to make the player and, by extension, the team better. He always coached with the mindset that someday his players would be teaching the same thing to their children, so the concept had to be universal and timed honored.

Outside of volunteering at MMI, Ned has served on the Board of Directors for Hazleton General Hospital and as the solicitor for Hazle Township, Luzerne County Probation Department, Luzerne County Tourist Promotion Agency, Hazleton Zoning Hearing Board. He is the solicitor for the Hazle Township Zoning Hearing Board and the Hazleton City Authority. He previously served as the assistant solicitor for the Hazleton Area School District. Professionally, he is a duly licensed attorney practicing in all Pennsylvania state courts and is licensed to practice the Eastern and Middle Federal District Courts. He currently serves as the president of the Lower Luzerne County Bar Association.