Arkansas' Neighbors Named Women's Assistant Coach at Tulsa
6/25/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
June 25, 2001
Tulsa, Oklahoma - University of Tulsa Head Women's Basketball coach Kathy McConnell-Miller announced today the appointment of University of Arkansas administrative assistant Mike Neighbors as an assistant basketball coach for the Golden Hurricane. In addition, TU assistant coach Aisha Veasley assumes a full-time recruiting position.
Neighbors will coordinate opponent scouting, oversee scheduling, video exchange, assist with recruiting and serve as the director of the Kathy McConnell-Miller Summer Camps for Girls in addition to player development and other coaching duties.
"Mike has made tremendous sacrifices to help him reach this position," McConnell-Miller said. "He is well-respected in this profession and has the ability to be successful at any level. He has had the opportunity to recruit and coach at the collegiate level. I am excited about the addition of Mike and his family to the TU family. I think it is a great fit."
Neighbors, 32, comes to Tulsa from the University of Arkansas where he spent the last two seasons as an administrative assistant for the Lady Razorbacks. Last season, Arkansas posted a 20-13 overall record and advanced to the second round of the 2001 NCAA Tournament. During the 1999-2000 campaign, the Lady Razorbacks completed the season with a 17-15 overall mark and a semifinal appearance in the 2000 WNIT.
Previously, Neighbors spent the 1998-99 campaign as the head girls coach at Cabot (Ark.) High School where he led the Panthers to a 19-9 overall record, a Class AAAAA-east conference runner-up and a state tournament appearance.
Before that, Neighbors spent four years as the head girls basketball coach at Bentonville (Ark.) High School. After a 1-24 record during his first season, Neighbors wasted little time in building BHS into a perennial basketball power. During his last three years at BHS, his teams won 18 or more games each season and posted a combined record of 56-32. Neighbors' 1997 squad reached the Class AAAAA state finals and completed the season with a 20-11 mark. He was twice named coach of the year in Benton County.
A native of Greenwood, Arkansas, Neighbors earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arkansas in 1993, and he completed his associate's degree at Westark (Ark.) Community College in 1989.
Neighbors and his wife, Angie, have one daughter: Abby (5).
Veasley, 24, begins her third season as an assistant coach for the Golden Hurricane in 2001-2002. In addition to her coaching responsibilities she will have the opportunity to evaluate and recruit potential student-athletes off campus. She will assist with summer recruiting, high school and AAU evaluations, home visits and official campus visits. For the last two seasons, Veasley oversaw the Kathy McConnell-Miller Summer Camps for Girls, coordinated team travel, video exchange, student-athlete affairs, academics and served as the team's community service coordinator.
"Coach Veasley has shown a tremendous amount of loyalty to this program and The University of Tulsa. Her rapport with our present players and recruits is outstanding. Her ability to identify talent and evaluate the needs for our future will assure another solid class for 2001-2002. This promotion is well deserved and a result of her commitment to TU," McConnell-Miller said.
