After spending one season as a graduate assistant for the University of South Alabama men’s basketball program, Andrew Steele has been promoted to director of operations, head coach Matthew Graves announced Wednesday.

Steele takes over for Jordan Surenkamp, who joined the staff of the NBA G League’s Long Island Nets.

“I’m extremely excited to add Andrew to our basketball staff in an administrative role,” Graves said. “He has an extremely bright future in the coaching profession and I look forward to working with him for another year.”

In his role as graduate assistant, Steele served as video coordinator, overseeing the filming of practice and games, and the exchange of film with other schools.

Additionally, he assisted with player and team development, conducted individual workouts, and was responsible for all analytics during practices and games. He also monitored the academic progress of the student-athletes and managed the student manager staff.

“My wife Brittany and I are extremely blessed and equally excited for this opportunity to continue to work for Coach Graves and his South Alabama basketball program,” Steele said. “I’ve learned and grown so much this past year in Mobile, and I couldn’t think of a better place to continue my college coaching career. I know that it’s very rare in this business to work with people who are truly like family to you, but that’s what we’ve found here at South Alabama.”

Prior to arriving at South Alabama, Steele spent two years at John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham, Ala., where he was a physical education teacher and the boys’ head basketball coach. He implemented practice plans for the 9th grade, junior varsity and varsity squads, and was responsible for all administrative aspects for each of the three teams.

As a player with the Alabama basketball program, Steele appeared in 94 games with 20 starts in five years. He averaged 4.2 points and posted a 1.3 assist/turnover ratio, and helped the Crimson Tide to three 20-win seasons, an NCAA appearance, and two NIT berths.

Steele was selected as a team captain his senior season, earned the Hustle Award in each of his final two years, and won the Guy Lee Defensive Player Award in 2008-09.

The Birmingham native is currently working towards his master’s degree in sport management. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business marketing in 2012 from Alabama.

Steele is married to the former Brittany Hines, who ran track at the University of Alabama.

http://usajaguars.com/news/2017/8/23/andrew-steele-named-mens-basketball-director-of-operations.aspx