University of Hartford Director of Athletics Anton Goff announced today that Kim McNeill has been hired as the Hawks’ head women’s basketball coach. McNeill has spent the past 16 seasons as an assistant coach at the Division I level, distinguishing herself as an effective and successful recruiter and coach.
“When we began the search for the new leader of Hartford Women’s Basketball, I knew I was looking for someone who is a strong recruiter, would inspire our players, energize our donors and fans, and who comes from a culture of winning,” Goff said. “Kim McNeill brings these qualities and so much more. Her passion and energy are infectious, and I know all of Hawk Nation will rally behind her. This is a great day for Hartford Athletics.”
McNeill, the eighth coach in program history, arrives at Hartford by way of the University of Virginia, where from 2011-13, she was an assistant coach under Joanna Boyle before being elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2013.
“I am extremely excited to be the next Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Hartford,” exclaimed McNeill. “I am grateful for the opportunity and the trust that President Harrison and Anton Goff have instilled in me to lead this program. In my initial conversations with Anton, I could feel his passion, commitment and vision for Hartford Athletics. These values are very important to me as I venture into my first head coaching job, and I am so happy that I can now call Hartford home.”
McNeill worked alongside Boyle for eight seasons, previously serving as an assistant coach on her staff at the University of Richmond (2004-05) and the University of California (2005-07). Prior to rejoining Boyle’s staff at Virginia, McNeill spent four seasons at the University of Georgia from 2007-11. Prior to her time at Richmond, McNeill worked three seasons (2000-01 and 2002-04) at James Madison.
McNeill is no stranger to helping build winning programs. Five of the six programs she has been a part of have earned berths to either the NCAA Tournament or the Postseason WNIT (California, Georgia, James Madison, Richmond and Virginia). She has been a part of 10 teams that have qualified for the postseason, guiding six squads to NCAA Tournament berths and four to appearances in the Postseason WNIT.
At Virginia, McNeill helped pilot the program to three WNIT appearances, including back-to-back berths in 2014-15 and 2015-16. The Cavaliers posted a 90-71 record during her five-year stint. Included in that time is the program’s first 25-win season since 1999-00 (2011-12). In her four seasons at Georgia, the Lady Bulldogs participated in four-consecutive NCAA Tournaments, advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 in both 2010 and 2011.
A talented recruiter – especially along the East Coast – McNeill helped Virginia land 13 players in the last five recruiting classes (2012-16) who ranked in the nation’s top-100. The Cavaliers’ 2016 recruiting class was ranked 13th nationally by ProspectsNation while the incoming 2016-17 class includes the Gatorade State Players of the Year from both New York and New Jersey. In addition, she helped Georgia ink 2008 and 2009 recruiting classes that were ranked among the nation’s top five.
At James Madison, she helped the Dukes make a run to the WNIT semifinals during her inaugural season in 2001. Between the two stints at JMU, she was an assistant coach at Howard University for one year.
“My goal is to create a positive student-athlete experience, where our success is found on the court, in the classroom and throughout the community,” McNeill continued. “Coach Rizzotti has laid an unbelievable foundation, and I look forward to contributing to the tradition of excellence at Hartford.”
A native of Bassett, Va., McNeill was a three-year letterwinner and co-captain at Richmond, where she received her bachelor’s degree in sport science in 2000. On the court, she was named to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Defensive Team as a senior. Prior to transferring to Richmond, she was named the 1996 Big South Rookie of the Year at Radford.
McNeill and her husband, Cory McNeill, are the parents of three-year old twins.
Photo Courtesy Hartford Athletics
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