Empire 8

[UCgrad45]

Not the way I thought UC would go.

Looks like another E8 job opening up. I feel UC could have done much better, but I'll give the guy a chance.

[Ethelred the Unready]

Who are you speaking of?

[UCgrad45]

You will see soon.

[UCgrad45]

One real positive is that his guys always play hard. I am a little worried about recruiting, but the guy always has teams that play hard and are good people.

[UCgrad45]

School finally announced it.

http://www.utica.edu/ucpioneers/mbasketball/index.cfm?featureaction=detail&id=2149

Gil Burgmaster
Release Date 04/02/2008
[Go to UC Sports News]


Head Coach Chris Connolly 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.

[Caz Bombers]

Not exactly what you'd call a winning track record, but then again Elmira was a little less putrid than usual this past season.  Odd move all the way around, not necessarily bad right now, but odd.

[JQV]

Wow, what an awful hire.  How does this keep the program's momentum going?

I don't know the guy but I think it is hard to shake the stink of time as EC's head man.  Maybe I'm wrong though.

[superman57]

Superman agrees, that this is a very very odd hire, and that maybe the Utica job wasn't as attractive as it looked, I mean Utica eve offered superman the job, and he turned it down, guess Utica really does suck.

[Razor]

With Coach Connelly heading to Utica, is there any news on who Elmira's next coach is going to be?

[JQV]

With Coach Connelly heading to Utica, is there any news on who Elmira's next coach is going to be?

Maybe just use a cardboard cutout to save money?

[Razor]

Heard today that Alfred may be on the verge of a coaching change.  Anyone know if there is any truth to that??

[buck1053]

Heard today that Alfred may be on the verge of a coaching change.  Anyone know if there is any truth to that??

I'm hearing its happening.

[buck1053]

Heard today that Alfred may be on the verge of a coaching change.  Anyone know if there is any truth to that??

I'm hearing its happening.

Yep, it's official: Jay Murphy is no longer the AU men's coach. He's now the WOMEN's basketball coach.

Here's the link to the school website:

www.alfred.edu/pressreleases/viewrelease.cfm?ID=4735

Interesting move, though he's probably prolonged his career, because there's nowhere to go but up for the women's team. The women had a 2-21 record, 1-15 in Empire 8. The men were 2-23, 1-15 this year.

[lileyes]

There is a possibility coach Murphy's daughter, who is currently playing at St. John Fisher, may transfer to play for him at Alfred. 

[buck1053]

There is a possibility coach Murphy's daughter, who is currently playing at St. John Fisher, may transfer to play for him at Alfred. 

I'm hearing this is also happening. I'm guessing he wouldn't have made the move unless his daughter transferred to Alfred. What other reason would he have, other than self-preservation?