Xavier Director of Athletics Greg Christopher has named Brian Neal interim head coach of Xavier University’s women’s basketball team for the 2013-2014 season.
Neal replaces Amy Waugh, head coach since April 2011. Waugh is stepping down after a two-year tenure with the Musketeers.
Neal, a third-year assistant with Xavier, will lead the Xavier team for the 2013-14 campaign. Prior to joining Xavier, Neal was head coach of Thomas More’s women’s program for seven years. A graduate of Northern Kentucky University, Neal has also served as an assistant coach at NKU and Wilmington.
"Brian knows our student-athletes and will serve as a strong foundation for the team this year," said Christopher. "We are fortunate to have Brian and his head coaching experience on staff."
Waugh completes her role as head coach with a 21-36 record. The 2003 Xavier graduate was a star player for the Musketeers and returned in 2009 as an assistant to then head coach Kevin McGuff.
"I have been wrestling with this decision through the summer," said Waugh. "There is no perfect timing, but with practice getting started and our fall break on campus, this was the time to make my decision. I frankly need to hit the pause button and will use the season to focus on my future. This program is headed in the right direction and in good hands with Brian."
"This was a difficult decision for Amy and I wish her the best going forward," said Christopher. "Amy has been a big part of Xavier women’s basketball as both a player and coach. She walked into a challenging situation and has worked hard to rebuild the program for future success."
Neal posted a 171-31 (.847) overall record in seven seasons as the head coach of the Thomas More women’s basketball program prior to joining Waugh’s Xavier’s staff in 2011. He recorded six consecutive 20-win seasons at TMC and guided the Saints to five consecutive Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) championships. Neal is a four-time recipient of the PAC Coach of the Year Award (2006, 08, 10, 11) and was twice named the Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year (2008 and 11).
The Saints made five straight NCAA Championship appearances under Neal. During the 2010-11 season TMC earned the school’s first-ever No. 1 ranking, posted program’s second undefeated regular season in four years and advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Division III Championship for the second time in three seasons and fourth overall. In March of 2011 Neal was named the Russell Athletics/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Region Six Division III Coach of the Year.
