May 30, 2007
CINCINNATI - Mike Neighbors has been named as an assistant women's basketball coach at Xavier University as announced by head coach Kevin McGuff. Neighbors comes to XU from the University of Arkansas and replaces Mike Bradbury, who was recently named head coach at Morehead State University.
Neighbors was an assistant coach for the Lady `Backs during the 2006-07 season and was involved in all facets of the program, including evaluation and recruitment of student-athletes, player development of perimeter and post players, scouting of opponents and academic support. Arkansas began the 2005-06 campaign 15-1 and was ranked as high as No. 20 in the Associated Press Poll.
"I am extremely excited to welcome Mike to our program," said McGuff. "His work ethic combined with great coaching experience will allow him to make an immediate impact. He is a great fit for our staff and our University."
Neighbors made a mark at Arkansas by signing the No. 39 rated recruiting class in the country, which included Arkansas Gatorade Player of the Year Whitney Zachariason and Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year Morgan Boyd.
Prior to his time at Arkansas, Neighbors served as an assistant coach for Kathy McConnell-Miller at the University of Colorado. While with the Buffs, Neighbors handled evaluation and recruitment of student athletes, post player development, and scouting for all but two of CU's opponents. The freshman class Neighbors inked was rated No. 26 in the country according to the All Star Girls Report.
Neighbors was also an assistant for McConnell-Miller at the University of Tulsa from 2002-2005. While at Tulsa, Neighbors was involved in the evaluation and recruitment of student-athletes, post and perimeter player development, game scheduling and summer camp organization. Tulsa was 52-39 during Neighbors' tenure and made back-to-back appearances in the WNIT.
While at Tulsa, Neighbors coached a pair of honorable mention All-Americans and four players who went on to play professionally, including Allison Curtin who was drafted No. 13 in the WNBA draft and won a World Championship with the Detroit Shock. Neighbors signed the No. 25 rated recruiting class for the Golden Hurricanes and was an NCAA Final Four Roundtable speaker on player evaluation.
Neighbors, who graduated from Arkansas in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in secondary education, broke into collegiate coaching as the director of operations for the Lady `Backs from 1999-2002.
Prior to his first stint in Fayetteville, Neighbors was the head girl's basketball coach at Bentonville High School (1993-98) and Cabot High School (1998-99). He inherited a team that went 1-24 his first year but went on to an 18-12 record and an appearance in the State Championship his final season.
Neighbors is the father of two children, Abby (11) and Alec (5).
