University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
McNelis Names Clanton as Director of Basketball Operations
8/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Aug. 2, 2011
HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Southern Miss Women's Basketball Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis announced the hiring of Melinda Clanton as Director of Basketball Operations for the Lady Eagle program. This hiring is subject to approval by the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.
"We are excited to have Melinda as part of our staff," McNelis said." She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in business management and marketing. Her personality and love of this basketball program will help us achieve our goals. Melinda and her husband Tim have been active supporters of our Lady Eagle basketball program and we are excited to have them as part of our Golden Eagle family."
Prior to joining the Lady Eagle basketball staff, Clanton worked in private business for the past 19 years and most recently as Vice President of Clanton, Inc., as a owner of a local fast food and casual dining restaurant. While working there, her duties include supervising of employees, maintaining all bookkeeping records, handling all new hires and marketing for the store.
Clanton's duties will include coordinating team travel, marketing, directing public relations and speaking events for the program, assisting with equipment, liaison for "The Wings", coordinating the annual golf tournament and summer camps as well as assisting in monitoring the players' academic progress.
"Having been a fan of Lady Eagle Basketball for the past few years, it is very exciting to move from the stands to the court," said Clanton. "I am so appreciative of the opportunity to become a part of this program and I look forward to being an asset to Lady Eagle Basketball and The University of Southern Mississippi."
The Carriere, Miss., native earned a degree in accounting from Pearl River Community College in 1995. She is married to Tim Clanton of Dadeville, Ala., and the couple has two children, Whitney and Chase.
