O’Neal returns to his first love -- teaching/coaching

After leaving education to pursue a career in industry, Jim O'Neal is following his heart back into coaching. In an interview before Junior Bison Football Camp on Thursday, a big smile verified that it has been the right decision as he proclaimed decisively, "I'm loving what I do again!"

O'Neal grew up in League City, Texas and graduated from Clear Creek High School, where he played baseball and earned an athletic scholarship to Sam Houston. He attended SHSU for three years then transferred to Houston Baptist University where he graduated in '94 with a double major: History/ Human Kinetics. O'Neal then racked up fifteen years as a teacher/coach at Normangee ISD (2), Trinity (2), Centerville (3) and Madisonville (8) before leaving teaching to take a job at Nucor several years ago. Recently, he came to a decision. "I missed the coaching and decided to come back to what I like to do. I like being around kids. It keeps you young -- keeps you moving."

O'Neal is looking forward to teaching history and as a member of the BHS boys coaching staff, he will assist in football and basketball. He is excited, too, about the new BHS facility, stating, "It is beautiful. Folks here have a lot to be proud of."

The O'Neal family lives near Normangee, off OSR. Lori O'Neal is a junior high math teacher in Madisonville. They have two daughters, Connor (12) and Avery (5) and one son, J.P. (10).