Year in College Athletics: 34
Year at Arizona: 20
Wendell Neal joined the Arizona Athletic Department in July 1998 as Director of Equipment Operations. In August 2003, he was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Equipment Operations and is now an associate athletic director. Neal and his staff oversee all equipment needs for the 20 sports programs at the University of Arizona.
Neal is a certified member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA). In 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 1989-98. He has also served as Athletic Equipment/Facilities Director at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas from 1984-89.
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.
Neal is married to the former Cindy Hale, and they have one daughter, Natalie, and two sons, Tyler and Austin. Neal has been active in youth sports, serving on Little League Boards, while coaching youth baseball and AAU basketball.
