Seattle University head women's basketball coach Joan Bonvicini announced the hiring of three assistant coaches to her staff for the 2009-10 season. Joining the Redhawk women's basketball program are Jamie Angeli, Joy Hollingsworth and Kristen O'Neill.
"We have put together an outstanding staff that complement each other's strengths," said Bonvicini, who is entering her first season at the helm of the SU women's team. "These coaches bring something special to SeattleU, and are very excited, enthusiastic and focused on bringing success and a high level of Division I basketball here."
Angeli joins the Redhawks after spending one season as the head coach of Al Arabi Sporting Club in Kuwait. The Iron River, Mich. native boasts over 25 years in the basketball profession as a player, coach, administrator and author. As a professional head coach he holds an overall 112-25 record and three consecutive league championships with overseas teams. Prior to joining the professional ranks, he played for the University of Wisconsin-Stout and graduated in 1985. He has worked for 10 years at the NCAA DI level under several decorated coaches, including UCLA's Steve Lavin, South Florida's Stan Heath, George Mason's Jim Larranaga and Bradley's Stan Albeck, who have combined for over 1,000 career wins. While an assistant coach with the UCLA men's basketball team, he helped the Bruins reach the NCAA Sweet 16 four times and assisted in recruiting the top recruiting class in the nation in 1998. In addition to coaching, he has written several articles that have earned national recognition including "Scouting America's Top Basketball Programs" volumes 1, 2, 3.
He will assist Bonvicini in all aspects of the program, focusing on working with the post players. Angeli will run the SeattleU women's basketball camp, be the team's recruiting coordinator and assist with scouting.
"Jamie has a storied history of coaching and working with elite men's basketball programs," said Bonvicini. "He brings a wealth of knowledge to the Redhawk program and with his experiences we are already a step ahead. Jamie brings cutting edge ideas to our team."
A 2007 graduate of the University of Arizona, Hollingsworth joins her former coach for her first year as a Division I assistant coach. Most recently she played professionally in Greece in 2007, after earning All-Pacific 10 Honorable Mention and Most Valuable Player accolades that year at UA. In 2005, she was the Wildcats Most Inspirational player, after transferring from the University of San Francisco. With the Dons she was named West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year in 2003. Prior to attending USF, Hollingsworth played for nearby Seattle Preparatory as a prep. She earned a Master of Education in sports administration from the University of Washington in 2009 and her article "Final Buzzer Means Fresh Start" was published in the Winter 2009 edition of the NCAA Champion Magazine.
Under Bonvicini, she will do individual work with the SeattleU guards and wings. She will also assist with scouting and recruiting, in addition to assisting Bonvicini in all aspects of the program.
"Joy brings so much to this position, as she has a good understanding of what I want as a former player at Arizona," Bonvicini said. "She also brings awareness of the Seattle area of players and has a great enthusiasm of knowledge of the game."
The final member of Bonvicini's staff is former University of Washington standout O'Neill. The Lynwood, Wash. native played with the Huskies from 2001-06, where she was team co-captain her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. She was UW's Defensive Player of the Year twice (2002 and 2003), a 2002 Pacific-10 All-Freshman Team honoree and the Coaches Award recipient in 2006. After graduating from Washington in 2006, she played from 2006 to 2009 for three European professional teams, including FIBA's Ireland Superleague's UL Aughinish where she was the 2009 Superleague Player of the Year, after averaging 26 points per game. In 2008, she also spent a season playing with her hometown team the Seattle Storm. In addition to playing, she has worked as a talent scout for ESPN, run and worked at numerous basketball camps and most recently opened O'Neill Hoops, where she provides elite training for local female basketball players.
O'Neill will work alongside Hollingworth, focusing on working with the guard and wing players. She will also assist in the team's recruiting and scouting efforts.
"Kristen was an outstanding player at the University of Washington, with the Storm and overseas," Bonvicini said. "Her experience as a player both professionally and in college in this area allows us to partner with so many players and coaches across the state."
"Joy and Kristen are two great assistant coaches who are young and enthusiastic," concluded Bonvicin. "They provide life for our program and are both excited to be part of the SeattleU women's basketball family."
Bonvicini and her assistant coaching staff will make their Redhawk debuts on Friday, Nov. 13, when SeattleU hosts UC Davis in their season opener. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.