Mike Neighbors

Mike Neighbors
Sport(s)	Women's college basketball
Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	University of Washington
Biographical details
Born	(1969-03-29) March 29, 1969 Greenwood, Arkansas
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2013–current	University of Washington

Mike Neighbors (born March 29, 1969) in Greenwood, Arkansas is the University of Washington head women's basketball coach. He is in his second year as a head coach, having served as an assistant under Kevin McGuff for several years, including two years with the Huskies.^[1]

Early years

Neighbors grew up in Greenwood, Arkansas, where he played basketball for coach H.B. Stewart. His family was very involved in the school system, as teachers, school secretaries, assistant superintendent and superintendent positions. He was asked by his high school coach what he dreamed to do, and his answer was "My dream is to take your job". Neighbors expected to remain in the area, and did for a few years, but then ended up in coaching positions spanning four time zones.^[2]

High school coaching

In 1994, Neighbors was named the head coach of the Bentonville High School girl's basketball program. In his first year, the team had a record of 1–24.^[3] However, he did not quit and the team became a powerhouse, winning at least 18 games each of the next three seasons, and reaching the state finals in 1997.^[4]

Neighbors then took the head coaching position for the girls basketball team at Cabot High School, as well as teaching biology classes. During his year at Cabot, he was playing some pickup basketball. He had bet a high school player he could dunk. He won, and went on to play five pickup games that morning. After going home, he was resting on his couch when he experienced excruciating chest pain. An ambulance showed up, took his blood pressure which registered as almost perfect, but because the ambulance was there, he went to the hospital where they determined he had experienced a heart attack. Doctors placed two stents in his chest to help with the blood flow, and he was back to coaching the following Friday. However, he decided he had to change his life and he resigned the head coaching position to become the director of basketball operations under Gary Blair at Arkansas. The change resulted in a substantial pay cut.^[5]

College assistant

The transition from head coach to an administrative role can be challenging, even when going from the high school level to the college level.^[6] Neighbors explains his philosophy, "...be the head coach of whatever they ask you to do." His new head coach liked Diet Coke, so Neighbors decided to make sure that Blair always had his preferred drink. This included calling the arenas planned for a road game, to find out whether the arena was a Pepsi or a Coke location. If a Pepsi location, he would make sure to bring a bag packed with Diet Coke to the game. He referred to himself as "Gary Blair's Diet Coke guy."^[5] He did his so well, he moved on to more responsibilities. Blair asked him to help out with camps, then viewing opponents videos to write scouting reports. When he works on scouting reports, he follows a routine, which never varies. He watches the game four times before he takes his first note. Then he uses a specific kind of pad, and the same four writing instruments to record his thoughts. He doesn't just record what the team is doing, but what they are trying to accomplish and what will be an effective counter.^[7]

After three years as director of basketball operations, he felt he was ready to become a full assistant. Tulsa's head coach, Kathy McConnell-Miller, persuaded Neighbors to join her staff.^[8] While an assistant at Tulsa, the school had their best record in school history (19–12) and their first ever post-season invitation.^[4] Neighbors worked as an assistant at Tulsa for four years, and then when Kathy McConnell-Miller left to take over the Colorado program, Neighbors continued as her assistant at Colorado. After one year at Colorado, Susie Gardner persuaded Neighbors to return to Arkansas, this time as a full assistant.^[9] After one year at Colorado, Susie Gardner persuaded Neighbors to return to Arkansas, this time as a full assistant.^[9] The return home did not last long, as Gardner and Arkansas parted ways at the end of the season. Arkansas replaced Gardner with Tom Collen, who chose to bring in his own staff as assistants.^[10]

Neighbors was hired by Xavier head coach Kevin McGuff in time for the 2007-08 season. He continued as McGuff's assassinate through the 2010–11 season, during which time the Musketeers were 108–22, winning the A10 Conference Tournament three of the four years, making the NCAA tournament each year, and advancing to the Elite Eight in 2010, losing to national runner-up Stanford by just two points.^[11] While at Xavier, Neighbors was selected as one of the best assistant coaches in the country. He was chosen as one of five recipients for the BasketballScoop.com and ONS Performance Rising Star award.^[12]

The Washington Huskies women's basketball program has enjoyed success over the years. Chris Gobrecht served as head coach for eleven years, between 1985 and 1996. She was succeeded by June Daugherty, who also remained for eleven years. Daugherty was replaced by Tia Jackson. However, Jackson did not have a winning seasons in any of her four years, so the school looked for a replacement. They convinced McGuff to take the position, and McGuff persuaded Neighbors to come with him.^[13][14]

The Huskies turned around their 11–17 record, improving to 20–14 and making it to the Quarterfinals of the WNIT. The next year, the team improved again, finishing 21–12, and finishing 5th in the Pac-12 Conference, their best finish since 2007. However, at the end of McGuff's second season, Ohio State decided to move on from Jim Foster, and persuaded McGuff to take over the head coaching position for the Buckeyes. McGuff, who had signed a three year contract extension just three weeks earlier, was persuaded to return to his home state.^[15]

Head coach

Faced with the need to hire a new head coach, shortly after thinking they had a multi-year commitment, the athletic department acted quickly. The team lobbied the administration to promote Neighbors, despite his lack of head coaching (at the college level) experience. The athletic department interviewed Neighbors, as well as one other assistant, and chose Neighbors three days after losing McGuff.^[16]

The team had a 12–10 record when they faced Stanford, then the #3 rated team in the country. The Cardinal were on a 62 game consecutive conference road winning streak. It was Neighbors' first game on national TV as the game was being broadcast by ESPNU. The Huskies decided to try to limit the inside game of Stanford, which was led by Chiney Ogwumike, the conference's leading scorer. Ogwumike scored 23 points, but with less than a minute left in the game, the Huskies held a twelve point lead, 85–73. Washington missed free throws, while Stanford's Bonnie Samuelson hit a three pointer. She hit another one with nine seconds to go, and the margin was down to four points. The Huskies had the ball, but when they failed to inbound within five seconds, the ball turned over to Stanford. Ogwumike was fouled, and hit one free throw to cut the lead to three points. On the inbounds, Stanford almost stole the ball, but there was a tie-up and the possession arrow favored the Huskies. Washington was fouled on the ensuing play and hit two free throws to secure the victory over Stanford.^[17]

Head coaching record

References

External links

• UW bio