Chris Connolly Named Utica Men's Basketball Coach
April 2, 2008
From Utica College Sports Information Release
UTICA, NY – Utica College Athletic Director Jim Spartano Wednesday named Chris Connolly head men’s basketball coach.
Connolly spent the past four seasons as head men’s basketball coach and administrative assistant at Empire 8 Conference member Elmira College in Elmira, NY.
“We are extremely happy that Chris has accepted the job as head men’s basketball coach here at Utica College,” says Spartano. “He brings with him a great resume including 10 years of coaching experience. He knows the Empire 8 Conference and our current student-athletes very well. Our players respect him for what he has accomplished and the way his teams prepared and played during his four seasons at Elmira.”
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 doubled 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.
“I am certainly excited about the opportunity and I would like to thank Coach Spartano and the entire Utica College community for the chance to coach such a well respected program,” says Connolly. “I was raised in nearby Richfield Springs and I have had the pleasure of watching UC grow and expand over the years. I look forward to returning home being a part of the continued growth of the college and the men’s basketball program.”
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 has spent the last four years rebuilding the Elmira College men’s basketball program and he most recently guided the Soaring Eagles to a 6-19 overall record and an eighth place finish in the conference. He coached two Empire 8 All-Conference honorees during his tenure at Elmira and this past season two 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 Elmira, NY with his wife Jennifer, his daughter, Rhyan and son, James.
This past season the Pioneers finished with a 16-9 overall record and 10-6 in conference play, just missing out on the conference tournament by one game. UC won eight of its last ten games, while knocking off the top four teams in the conference.