Former Sunbird Sean Nealon-Lino joined the Fresno Pacific men's basketball staff ahead of the 2024–25 season as an Assistant Coach for Recruitment and Standard Optimization. Nealon-Lino brings a wealth of experience from his time as a standout player for FPU during the most successful stretch in program history.
Born in Lisbon, Portugal, Nealon-Lino honed his basketball skills at Barking Abbey School in London under coach Lloyd Gardner. He led his team to the 2018 EABL National Championship. Internationally, he represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games, contributing to historic victories over England and Nigeria, culminating in a fourth-place finish. His leadership and dedication earned him the Jack Petchey Foundation 'Excellence in Sport and Leadership' award through the Michael Johnson Young Leaders program for his work with students with disabilities and special needs in the UK.
Nealon-Lino joined Fresno Pacific University in 2018, redshirting his first year. As a redshirt freshman in the 2019–20 season, he played in 27 games, starting 18, and averaged 6.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. His sophomore season was cut short due to injury after six games, but he still managed to average 7.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
In the 2020–21 season, Nealon-Lino was instrumental in leading the Sunbirds to their first NCAA tournament appearance in school history. He continued to make significant contributions in the 2021–22 season, helping the team achieve a top-four ranking in the West Region and multiple weeks in the national Top 25 NABC poll, culminating in the program's first conference tournament appearance. Throughout his collegiate career, he was recognized with Academic All-PacWest honors, reflecting his commitment both on the court and in the classroom.
After concluding his playing career, Nealon-Lino transitioned into coaching, first at San Joaquin Memorial High School before joining his alma mater. His firsthand experience as a player during one of the most successful eras in FPU basketball history provides valuable insights and mentorship to current players. Nealon Lino takes leading role in recruiting and in player development for the Sunbirds. When he's not coaching the Sunbird, Nealon-Lino is a teacher for thie Visalia Unified School District.
“Sean has always been an incredibly gifted young man in his leadership, work ethic, and refusal to accept anything beneath a championship standard. His experience as a player who built our program serves us very well, and his model work ethic, competitive spirit, and winning habits equip him to continue to move our program forward every day.”
— Head Coach C.J. Haydock
