Connolly, who is only the fifth coach in program-history, enters his eighth season as head coach of the Utica College men’s basketball team. He currently maintains an overall record of 76-100 in seven full seasons at the helm including a 41-67 ledger in the competitive Empire 8 Conference. During his tenure, Connolly has led 19 student-athletes to All-Conference status and several Pioneers into the 65-year old record books.
This past season, Connolly guided three Pioneers including Conor Maisch, Aaron Nevins and Chris Jeffers into the all-time top 10 in several categories and also two Pioneers to all-conference status.
Maisch made his second All-Conference appearance in three years after leading the Empire 8 in 3-point field goal percentage (47.4%). He finished the season ranked 12th nationally and concluded his career at UC as the all-time leader in 3-pointers in a season (83) and in a single game (nine). Maisch finished fourth all-time in total 3-pointers made (158) and fourth in career shooting percentage (49.8%) from behind the arc.
Nevins concluded his stellar four-year career as the all-time leader in free throws made (323). He finished second all-time in assists (408) and free throws attempted (469), third in games started (98) and minutes (3,094) and seventh in points (1,180).
Jeffers finished his career ranked second all-time in rebounds (811) and became just the third player in program history to score over 1,000 points and grab at least 500 rebounds. He also ranks fifth in games started (90), sixth in minutes (2,775) and 10
th in free throws attempted (305).
Two seasons ago, in 2013-2014, Connolly guided two Pioneers to All-Conference selections along with three Empire 8 Player of the Week honors. He led junior guard Aaron Nevins to his second All-Conference team in three years. Nevins, who was named the Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Year in 2012, is making his first appearance on the All-Conference honorable mention list. He finished the regular season ranked fourth in the E8 in points per game (16.9), assists per game (4.3), and assist/turnover ratio (1.6). He also ranked 11th in the E8 in shooting percentage (47%) and steals per game (1.3).
In 2012-2013, Coach Connolly guided junior Connor Maisch to one of the most impressive shooting escapades in NCAA history as he finished the season as the nation’s leader in three-point shooting across all of Division I, II and III. Maisch shot an impressive 52.8% from behind the arc on 161 attempts, beating out Division II leader Jobi Wall of Seattle Pacific University who finished with 48.9% from three point and Division I leader Tyrus McGee from Iowa State University who shot 46.4%. It's a remarkable achievement to know that there are over 320 Division I basketball teams, over 260 Division II teams and over 300 division III teams in the country but not one player from any of those schools shot better than 52.8%. Connolly made his second Empire 8 Conference Tournament as his squad streaked late winning four straight and 7-of-9 to close out the regular season. The Pioneers lost to nationally-ranked and No. 1 seeded Stevens in the first round.
In 2011-2012, the Pioneers compiled an overall record of 9-16 including a 5-9 mark in the E8. Connolly guided the squad to a tournament trophy at the Hilbert Tip-Off Tournament and closed out the season winning three out of his last five games on the road, all in league play. He also led three of his starters to post-season honors including his point guard, freshman Aaron Nevins, to a Rookie of the Year award.
In 2010-2011, Connolly posted a 13-11 overall mark while leading the squad to a 7-9 record in Empire 8 play. In his inaugural season as the Pioneers general, he guided UC to a 17-9 overall record including a 12-6 ledger in conference play. UC closed out the regular season winning seven straight and earned a No. 4 seed in the E8 Conference Tournament. UC however lost 65-62 to No. 2 Rochester Institute of Technology.
Prior to Utica he spent four seasons as head men’s basketball coach and administrative assistant at Empire 8 Conference member Elmira College in Elmira, NY.
His coaching resume prior to Elmira College includes a two year stint as assistant coach at Division II LeMoyne College where he guided the Dolphins to consecutive 17-win seasons. Following a successful playing career at Hartwick College, Connolly joined the Hawks coaching staff in 1997 as an assistant coach for five seasons where he was involved in all aspects of the men’s basketball program. In his first year as an assistant coach at Hartwick he also acted as an assistant director of admissions, where he coordinated all aspects of recruiting students from the New England area. He also spent three seasons as head coach of the Central Region men’s basketball team at the Empire State games and he guided his team to an Open Division Silver Medal in 2002.
Connolly graduated from Hartwick College in 1996 with a degree in biology. As a student he served as team captain of the men’s basketball team in his senior campaign, capping a four-year career highlighted by a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Connolly spent four years rebuilding the Elmira College men’s basketball program and he guided the Soaring Eagles to a 6-19 overall record and an eighth place finish in the conference in 2007-08. He coached two Empire 8 All-Conference honorees during his tenure at Elmira and in 2007-08 two of his freshmen garnered a combined seven conference rookie of the week awards.
As an administrative assistant at Elmira, Connolly was responsible for assisting Vice President of Athletics Patricia Thompson with scheduling the Soaring Eagles athletic contests.
Connolly, a 1992 graduate of Richfield Springs High School, currently resides in New Hartford, NY with his wife Jennifer, his daughter, Rhyan and son, James.
