The Gloucester High School girls’ varsity basketball program gets new leadership this season with first year head coach Amy O’Neil and assistant coach Richard Garner. 

O’Neil also coached the Page Middle School girls’ basketball team this fall and she and Garner have each coached children’s recreation teams for 10 years or more. 

A career switcher, O’Neil had initially wanted to be a high school physical education teacher and coach when she entered Christopher Newport University after graduating from Tabb High School. College did not work out for her and she eventually married, had a family and went to work full-time.

But O’Neil finally decided to follow her first dream and earned her bachelor’s degree in education in 2011. She also took a job with Tidewater Physical Therapy and in 2013 she earned her master’s degree in sports management. She is working now on obtaining her teaching certificate.

“I just want to l...