June 3, 2003
Lexington, Ky. – From district court to the basketball court, Angela O’Neal, J.D., is making a name for herself as she becomes the first Director of Basketball Operations for Kentucky women’s basketball.
O’Neal, who has been appointed by head coach Mickie DeMoss, joins the Kentucky women’s basketball staff as the director of basketball operations, a new position on the coaching staff. Prior to UK, she was a practicing attorney with Kennerly, Montgomery & Finley in Knoxville, Tenn., where she served as a civil litigator. She also served as an attorney at Legal Aid of East Tennessee for two years.
O’Neal’s responsibilities include supervising all non-coaching personnel, managing Coach DeMoss’s schedule, team travel, budget management, camps, officials, clinic and special event management, alumni relations, WNBA scout liaison, high school coach contact and facility coordinator while also assisting with on-campus recruiting.
“By allowing us to hire a Director of Basketball Operations for the women’s program is just another way that Mitch (Barnhart) has shown UK’s total commitment to the women’s basketball program,” DeMoss said. “This position will enhance our program in so many ways and we were fortunate to attract Angela. She comes to UK with an impressive resume and to have an individual of her caliber and background, where she can help us do so many different things, is an added bonus to my staff.”
“Kentucky is my dream job,” O’Neal said. “Everyone asks me, Why did you leave law to come to athletics? In my opinion, UK hired the best women’s basketball coach in the country and I’ve always wanted to get into college athletic administration. I have so much respect for Coach DeMoss and this was a job I just couldn’t pass up.”
O’Neal’s experience as an administrative assistant at Virginia and in the Tennessee women’s basketball office also led her back to collegiate athletics.
“I worked for two women’s basketball programs when I was in school,” O’Neal said. “Coach Debbie Ryan (Virginia) gave me the opportunity to be involved with her program where I was able to work with some of the best players and people in the game. While in law school at UT, I was able to work under Coach Pat Summitt and Coach DeMoss and I learned so much.”
O’Neal received her bachelor’s degree in American Government from Virginia in 1995 and a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2000. She is affiliated with the National Bar Association, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Knoxville Bar Association where she was the chair of the Minority Opportunities Committee, Junior Achievement, and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy Associates Association.
O’Neal is 29 and will reside in Lexington.
