Coach O'Neal's football career began at Mt. Carmel High School located in Chicago, IL where his teammates included Donavan McNabb and Simeon Rice. After high school, O'Neal's athletic ability earned him a football athletic scholarship to Western Michigan University from 1993-1997. During his college career, O'Neal started 34 of 41 collegiate games and finished his college career ranked 2nd in his school's history in pass break-ups.