Atlanta Hawks General Manager Billy Knight announced today several changes in the team's basketball operations department, as Rodney Heard was named Director of Scouting, and the promotions of Mike McNeive to Director of Pro Personnel, and Julie Hogg to Basketball Operations Coordinator.

Heard, a member of the Grizzlies since 1996-97, was one of the organization's national scouts during their years in Vancouver and Memphis, following three years on the collegiate level at the University of California (Berkeley). He resigned from the Grizzlies to take his position with the Hawks.

Having more than a decade of experience in the NBA in various scouting positions, McNeive worked as an assistant coach/advance scout for the Hawks last season after spending several years with the Milwaukee Bucks.
McNeive spent four years with the Seattle Sonics organization as the team's advance scout and video coordinator. He began his pro career in Orlando, where he served a one-year internship in the Magic video scouting department.

Hogg first joined the Hawks as trainee in the basketball operations in May 2000 following her graduation from the University of Georgia, and she was hired to a full-time position as the department's administrative assistant one year later. In 2002, she moved into the scouting department as a coordinator before accepting her newest position.