Norman O’Neal enters his third season as head baseball coach at Voorhees University, continuing to elevate the Tigers program both competitively and structurally. In addition to his coaching duties, he serves as an Instructor of Sport Management at the university, combining his professional sports background with classroom instruction.
Prior to arriving at Voorhees, O’Neal served as pitching coach at Claflin University as a graduate assistant under the late James Randall. Since taking over the Tigers program just two weeks before the 2021–22 season, he has steadily built momentum, guiding the team to a 9–15 overall record in his inaugural campaign while laying a strong foundation for long-term growth.
Under his leadership, the program has expanded its visibility and professional connections. O’Neal helped organize the second annual Major League Baseball Pro Day in South Carolina, featuring draft-eligible players from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The event attracted MLB scouts and further positioned Voorhees as a hub for player development and exposure. Through his professional network, he has also secured key facility enhancements, including new sod and irrigation upgrades, along with equipment partnerships with Akadema Pro, TrueCoach, and Armoured Heat.
A former standout pitcher at Claflin University, O’Neal earned All-Conference honors and helped lead the Panthers to a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tournament appearance. His best collegiate season came as a junior, when he posted an 11–2 record with a 3.14 ERA and 150 strikeouts. During his senior year, a rotator cuff injury shifted him into an expanded leadership role, assisting with pitching development — a transition that ultimately launched his coaching career.
Following graduation, O’Neal enlisted in the United States Navy as a Cryptologic Technician (Collections). After a service-related injury ended his military career, he transitioned into professional sports administration, beginning as a business intern with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. He later worked in the front office of the St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds, before joining the Memphis Grizzlies organization to assist in launching the Memphis Hustle, the franchise’s NBA G-League affiliate. After four years in professional sports, he returned to higher education to pursue teaching and collegiate coaching at Voorhees.
O’Neal holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management from Claflin University (2009), a Master of Science in Sport Commerce from the University of Memphis (2017), and an Associate of Science in Mobile Development from Full Sail University (2021).
A native of Elko, South Carolina, Coach O’Neal is a proud father of two daughters, Tyler and Denver, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
