Kevin O’Neill has been reassigned to duties within the athletic department for the remainder of the fiscal year, Arizona athletics director Jim Livengood announced today.

O’Neill served as the interim head coach for the UA men’s basketball team during the 2007-08 season while head coach Lute Olson took a personal leave of absence. He will serve as an assistant to the athletics director until June 30.

“”Kevin and I will sit down in mid-June to determine the next step,”” Livengood said in a press release.

Olson held a press conference on April 1 to announce his return to head coaching duties after taking his leave Nov. 4., and said O’Neill wouldn’t be returning to the program as an assistant coach, despite having a verbal contract for next season that would pay him $375,000 and Livengood announcing in December that O’Neill would succeed Olson, 73, when he retires.

As an interim coach, O’Neill led the Wildcats to a 19-15 record and a berth into the NCAA Tournament – the team’s 24th consecutive appearance.

O’Neill’s reassignment opens a vacancy on the men’s basketball staff.

– Arizona Daily Wildcat