Wendell Neal joined the Arizona Athletic Department in July 1998 as Director of Equipment Operations. In August of 2003 he was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Equipment Operations. Neal and his energetic staff oversee all equipment needs for the 19 sports programs at the University of Arizona.
Neal is a certified member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA). In the past years, he has served on the AEMA Board of Directors, Certification Steering Committee and Continuing Education Committee.
Before arriving in Tucson, Neal served as the Director of Equipment Operations at Washington State University for nearly 10 years spanning from 1989 until 1998. He has also served as Athletic Equipment/Facilities Director at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas from 1984 until 1989.
Neal earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Houston where he was a student football manager for four years. He started his full time career as an equipment manager at his alma mater.
Wendell married the former Cindy Hale, and they have one daughter, Natalie and two sons, Tyler and Austin. Neal has been very active in youth sports, serving on Little League Boards, while coaching youth baseball and AAU basketball.
