Former college coach Steve Riegler has been named the new head coach of men’s and women’s swimming at Chapel Hill High School, CHHS athletics director Tod Morgan announced last week. Riegler currently serves as the Aquatics Director for the Triangle Sportsplex.

“Coach Riegler comes to us with over 30 years of swimming experience,” Morgan said in a prepared statement, “So he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our CHHS swim program.”

Riegler coached on the collegiate level for over 10 years as an assistant swim coach at Xavier University, the University of Richmond, the University of Toledo and Northern Illinois University. He also served as Head Swim Coach at Xavier University as well.

Chapel Hill High hosted a casual “meet and greet” Monday for students and parents to meet Riegler.

O’Neal in first year at Cal-Penn

East Chapel Hill alumna Laurel O’Neal has joined the women’s soccer program at California University-Pennsylvania as an assistant coach. A The daughter of Mark O’Neal and Elizabeth Taylor of Chapel Hill, she is a former four-year starter and all-conference player at NCAA Division III Emory University.

O’Neal played with the Eagles from 2003-06, starting 71 games and tallying eight points on one goal and six assists in her career. She was named a team captain and earned All-University Athletic Association First-Team honors as a senior. O’Neal earned All-UAA honorable mention in 2003 and 2004 and helped Emory post a combined 49-22-4 overall record (.680) during her career. While with the program, the Eagles made NCAA Tournament appearances in both 2004 and 2005.

O’Neal holds a “C” license from the United States Soccer Federation and a national certification from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. She has coached with current Cal U head coach Gene Smith at the club level with the Beadling Soccer Club. O’Neal has also coached youth soccer in West Virginia and Georgia.

O’Neal completed her undergraduate degree from Emory in psychology before earning two master’s degrees from West Virginia.

Fast Break Against Cancer on Oct. 12

The eighth annual Fast Break Against Cancer will feature UNC men’s basketball coach Roy Williams, former Tar Heel broadcaster Woody Durham and other Carolina basketball favorites on Oct. 12 in the Dean E. Smith Center.

Fast Break Against Cancer includes a seated breakfast and a silent auction to raise funds for cancer research at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The event has raised over $1.2 million for cancer research at UNC.

Auction items include a basketball signed by Coach Williams and the 2012-13 team, the hood of the Quicken Loans 2011 Carrier Classic race car, signed by NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and Coach Williams, an ACC-themed original by Chapel Hill textile artist Elaine O’Neil and more.

Tickets are $100 per person. To purchase a ticket, see unclineberger.org/fastbreak.

Hatchell to speak at TSC meeting Oct. 24

UNC women’s basketball coach Sylvia Hatchel will be among the speakers during the Super KNOW (Knowledgeable Network of Women) program from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Hilton RDU.

Sponsored by the Triangle Sports Commission, together with the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce and the Business & Professional Women’s Association, the program features all four of the Triangle’s head coaches for NCAA Div. I women’s basketball: Hatchell; Kellie Harper of N.C. State; Joanne McCallie, Duke; and Vanessa Taylor, N.C. Central.

Tickets are available at www.morrisvillechamber.org.

Wolfpack Club to visit Chapel Hill in October

The Wolfpack Club’s Durham/Chapel Hill Coaches Caravan will stop at American Legion Post 6 in Chapel Hill on Oct. 4.

N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Mark Gottfried and head swimming & diving coach Braden Holloway will speak to fans about their upcoming season.

Wolfpack Club members and the general public are welcome to attend. The event will start at 6:30p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. The reservation deadline is Sept. 28.

For more information about the Coaches Caravan see wolfpackclub.com or call (919) 865-1500.

W.E. Warnock