Rick O'Neal joined the Dirty Birds coaching staff in 2022, bringing an impressive collegiate playing career and extensive coaching experience at the youth and high school levels. Coach O'Neal attended Darlington School in Rome, GA, and played collegiate lacrosse at Georgia Southern, Shorter University, and Kennesaw State University between 2010 and 2014 — serving as team captain all four years. His on-field accolades are a testament to his dominance: 1st Team All-Conference (SELC) at Georgia Southern, 1st Team All-Conference at Shorter University, two 1st Team All-Conference selections at KSU, and current school records for most groundballs in a single season at both Shorter University (65) and KSU (66). Following his playing career, Coach O'Neal spent six years coaching U9, U11, and U13 teams for the Marietta Athletic Club before serving as an assistant varsity coach at River Ridge High School. He currently serves as the Director of the Junior Knights Program and head coach of the 8th grade lacrosse team — continuing to develop young players with the same relentless work ethic that defined him on the field.