University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
McNelis Completes Coaching Staff
8/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Aug. 25, 2006
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- - Southern Miss Head Women's Basketball Coach Joye-Lee McNelis has announced the hiring of Stephen Pate as the coordinator of basketball operations today. In addition, McNelis announced that former University of Memphis standout player Shannon Hamp will be a graduate assistant. With these hirings, McNelis completes her coaching staff.
Pate comes to Southern Miss following a six-year association with the Louisiana Tech Lady Techster program, with his last as an administrative assistant. His duties at Southern Miss will include assisting with all areas of recruiting, directing public relations and speaking events for the program, coordinating team travel, and assisting with the monitoring of the players academic progress.
While at Louisiana Tech, Pate's responsibilities included video tape exchange, summer camps, organizing the men's practice squad, scheduling home and away practice times, officials and other administrative office duties.
"I am excited about adding Stephen to our staff," McNelis said. "He brings a wealth of experience as an administrative assistant to this position. He will be an important part of our Lady Eagle program. "
The Castor, La., native began his association with the Techsters as a student manager in 2000 under legendary head coach Leon Barmore. After two years as a student manager, Pate became the video coordinator for the Techsters, filming, editing and breaking down game film for film exchange as well as scouting reports.
The 26-year-old earned his bachelor's degree in health and exercise science from Louisiana Tech in May of 2003 and a master's degree in education administration in 2005.
A 1998 graduate of Castor High School, where he played basketball, Pate is the son of Floyd and Susan Pate. He has one sister, Shelley.
Hamp joins the Southern Miss staff after working two years at ARCO, an agency that provides services for persons with developmental disabilities, in Monroe, La. Her duties include handling all outgoing video to opponents, coordinating the youth Wings program and assist in building an alumni base for the program.
While at ARCO, she worked on the vocational side of the agency that supported persons with disabilities in a work setting.
"I am very honored to add Shannon to our staff," McNelis said. "She is my first former player to be a part of my staff. I'm excited about the difference she will make in helping our Lady Eagles better understand the challenges of a college athlete."
Hamp, a standout player for McNelis from 1999 to 2003, was a four-year starter and letterwinner at the center position. While at Memphis, she finished her career scoring 1,427 points and grabbing 567 rebounds. She led the team in scoring her last two seasons. She received all conference honors in 2002 and 2003, and was named to the all-freshman team in 2000.
The Monroe, La., earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Memphis in 2003 and is currently working on a master's degree in social work.
Hamp, a 1999 graduate of Wossman High School, was a three-year starter and letterwinner in basketball. During her senior year, she scored 603 points, averaging 27.2 points a game. She is the daughter of Angela Hamp.
