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26 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
SPORTS
JULY 13-JULY 19,2005
MEN'S BASKETBALL Self hires father of Mario Chalmers
Kansas men's head basketball coach Bill Self announced Ronnie Chalmers as director of basketball operations on June 28.
"Throughout this past year I've had a chance to get to know Ronnie on a personal and professional basis and have been very impressed with his knowledge and ability to work with people," Self said.
Chalmers, father of incoming freshman Mario Chalmers, comes from Anchorage, Alaska, where he was head basketball coach for five seasons at Bartlett High School. At Bartlett, he had a 109-28 record, led his team to consecutive state championships in 2002 and 2003.
The Wayland Baptist University graduate brings with him
more than 20 years of basketball coaching experience. Since 1985, he has served in both assistant and head coaching positions with Air Force squads as well as high school and summer league teams.
"He has a long military background and excellent basketball portfolio and we felt he would be a great addition to our staff, filling a position that was void this past year." Self said.
As director of basketball operations, Chalmers will once again join his son on the sidelines. Their player-coach relationship started during Mario's sixth grade year, but Ronnie said that Mario alone decided to come to Kansas.
"This is a great opportunity to get my foot in the door at the college level, follow my son and be a part of one of the best programs in the country;" Chalmers said.
Janna Graham
Giddens to end up as New Mexico Lobo
J. R. Giddens is transferring to the University of New Mexico.
The former Jayhawk decided to leave the University after a May 19 incident outside the Moon Bar, an incident in which Giddens was stabbed in the right calf.
New Mexico is the only university that Giddens visited, and he made his decision within two weeks of leaving Kansas. Other universities such as Tennessee and Florida also showed interest in Giddens, who was set to be the leading returning scorer for the Jayhawks next season. Giddens averaged 10.1 points his sophomore year and led Kansas in 3-pointers both of his seasons as a Jayhawk.
Giddens will have to sit out
his junior season because of NCAA transfer rules.
"J.R. seems excited about going to the University of New Mexico," said Kansas men's basketball head coach Bill Self. "They have an excellent program there and we wish him the best and hope he's able to live out his dream."
Ashley Michaels
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
Missouri player dies during workout
COLUMBIA, Mo. - A University of Missouri football player died Tuesday after collapsing during a voluntary workout with teammates, a hospital official told The Associated Press.
University Hospital spokeswoman Mary Jenkins confirmed the death of Aaron A. O'Neal, 19, a redshirt freshman linebacker
from the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur.
The cause of death was not immediately available.
O'Neal, a four-sport standout and football captain at Parkway North High School in St. Louis, was listed third on theTigers' depth chart at middle linebacker. He collapsed during a light workout on Faurot Field with about a dozen teammates July 12 afternoon, witnesses said.
"That's all the kid wanted to do, was play for Missouri," said Bob Bunton, O'Neal's high school football coach. "He was so happy and doing so well. I just feel bad for his family."
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound O'Neal showed no evidence of any serious medical problems in high school, Bunton said.
O'Neal chose Missouri over Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas State and Illinois to follow an older brother.
The Associated Press