University of Hartford head women’s basketball coach Kim McNeill announced the addition of Cory McNeill and Ebony Moore to her staff on Wednesday. Cory McNeill has been named Associate Head Coach while Moore joins the staff as an assistant coach.
“I couldn’t be more excited to add Cory and Ebony to my staff,” McNeill said. “It is imperative for me to put together a talented staff that is passionate, experienced in skill development, and most importantly, driven towards building an environment that is family-oriented. Both bring unique perspectives, energy and tireless work ethics to the Hartford women’s basketball program.”
McNeill, who is the husband of head coach Kim McNeill, was hired as an assistant coach at Virginia in May 2011. For the past five seasons, he worked under head coach Joanne Boyle, helping the Cavaliers a 90-71 record and three WNIT appearances, including back-to-back berths in 2015 and 2016.
“Cory is an experienced coach who brings versatility in areas that will help us succeed,” commented McNeill. “In addition to being an engaging teacher who has a true passion for the game of basketball, he is one of the best I’ve seen when it comes to player development. I know Cory will challenge our young ladies every day to be better both on and off the court.”
Prior to joining the staff at Virginia, McNeill served as an assistant coach at Georgetown from 2007-11. During that time, the Baltimore, Md., native helped the Hoyas to one of the nation’s most impressive turnarounds, earning back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths for the first time in program history in 2010 and 2011. In addition, with McNeill’s prowess as a defensive coach, Georgetown became one of the nation’s leaders in forced turnovers and defensive field goal percentage.
McNeill’s coaching career began at Coppin State. In five seasons, he led the Eagles to two Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championships, three regular-season MEAC Championships, two NCAA Tournament berths and a WNIT appearance. He played college basketball at Morgan State, where he received his bachelor’s degree in finance in 2002, and went on to earn his master’s degree in public administration in 2005 from the University of Baltimore.
Moore comes to Hartford from Richmond, where she was an assistant coach since 2009. Since she landed back at her alma mater, the Spiders made four appearances in the postseason WNIT and amassed 123 wins during that stretch, including a pair of 20-plus win seasons.
“Ebony and I share over 17 years of friendship, as we were college teammates at Richmond,” McNeill stated. “We have built a trusting relationship over the years. She brings a wealth of experience with her, and I am extremely confident that she has what it takes to drive the vision I have for the Hartford women’s basketball program.”
A native of Garner, N.C., Moore put together a decorated resume as a member of Richmond’s women’s basketball team from 1999-03. Her name is inked throughout the Spiders’ record books as she is the program’s 12th-leading scorer (1,215 points), fifth-leading rebounder (824 rebounds) and fifth-leading shot blocker (114 blocks). In addition, Moore joined an elite group of RIchmond women’s basketball players to score 1,000 points and snare 500 rebounds. She received her degree in interpersonal communication and speech rhetoric.
After college, Moore played professional basketball for two years in Israel and Greece before beginning her coaching career as an assistant at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. While at Shaw, she helped lead the Bears to a 2008 CIAA Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth.
McNeill became the eighth head coach in program history last month. She has spent the past 16 seasons as an assistant coach at the Division I level and comes to Hartford after successful stints at James Madison, Howard, Richmond, California, Georgia, and most recently, Virginia.
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