TEMPE – Joe Connolly - formerly the assistant athletics director for sports performance at Massachusetts - has been named the head coach of sports performance for Sun Devil Football, as announced by head coach Herm Edwards today.
Connolly will oversee the strength and conditioning program for Sun Devil Football.
"Joe Connolly has helped to develop over 30 NFL Draft picks during his career as a strength and conditioning coach," Edwards said. "We are excited to bring in someone that will get the most out of his athletes and knows what it takes to prepare them to play at the next level."
"I want to thank President Crow, Ray Anderson, Coach Edwards, Jean Boyd and Scottie Graham for this opportunity and being professionals throughout this whole process," Connolly said. "I couldn't be more excited to be a Sun Devil. I can't wait to get there and get to work on developing these young men and helping them accomplish big things. My wife, Shalona, and I are looking forward to arriving in Tempe."
Connolly joined University of Massachusetts Athletics in January 2016 and served as the director of sports performance. In his role, Connolly worked primarily with the University of Massachusetts football program.
In his first year with the program, Connolly helped develop Elijah Wilkinson – a 6-6, 329-pound offensive lineman that was an undrafted free agent following the 2016 campaign and went on to appear in eight games for the Denver Broncos this season.
Connolly also oversaw the strength and conditioning development of tight end Adam Breneman. Breneman was named to the USA TODAY College Football All-American Team as one of the two best tight ends in the country. He finished this season as the top-ranked tight end in the nation for receptions per game (5.8) and second for most receiving yards per game (69.5)
Breneman became the just third Minuteman selected to a major, national All-America team. A native of Barnstable, Mass., Connolly arrived in Amherst after seven seasons working with the football program at the University of South Carolina. During his time with the Gamecocks, he coached 30 NFL Draft picks, including the 2014 No. 1 selection Jadeveon Clowney, and 29 of his former players are currently active on NFL rosters.
Prior to his arrival in Columbia, S.C., Connolly served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Louisville. He worked with the Cardinal football program, primarily focusing on the skill position players. Connolly began his professional career at Harvard in 2007, assisting with all 41 sports, including the league's championship football team. He was hired as a full-time assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Crimson in 2008 and served as the head strength and conditioning coach for men's volleyball while continuing to assist with the other programs.
Connolly holds a Master of Science in physical education with a concentration in strength and conditioning from Bridgewater State, graduating magna cum laude in 2007. He is a 2004 graduate of the University of Hartford, where he earned degrees in criminal justice and sociology. He was a four-year letterwinner in baseball and was given the Senior Award for great sportsmanship and perseverance.Connolly is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches' Association (CSCCA) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Connolly is a current competitor in Olympic weightlifting, drug-free powerlifting, Highland games and strongman competitions. He will be joined in Tempe by his wife, Shalona.
Connolly will oversee the strength and conditioning program for Sun Devil Football.
"Joe Connolly has helped to develop over 30 NFL Draft picks during his career as a strength and conditioning coach," Edwards said. "We are excited to bring in someone that will get the most out of his athletes and knows what it takes to prepare them to play at the next level."
"I want to thank President Crow, Ray Anderson, Coach Edwards, Jean Boyd and Scottie Graham for this opportunity and being professionals throughout this whole process," Connolly said. "I couldn't be more excited to be a Sun Devil. I can't wait to get there and get to work on developing these young men and helping them accomplish big things. My wife, Shalona, and I are looking forward to arriving in Tempe."
Connolly joined University of Massachusetts Athletics in January 2016 and served as the director of sports performance. In his role, Connolly worked primarily with the University of Massachusetts football program.
In his first year with the program, Connolly helped develop Elijah Wilkinson – a 6-6, 329-pound offensive lineman that was an undrafted free agent following the 2016 campaign and went on to appear in eight games for the Denver Broncos this season.
Connolly also oversaw the strength and conditioning development of tight end Adam Breneman. Breneman was named to the USA TODAY College Football All-American Team as one of the two best tight ends in the country. He finished this season as the top-ranked tight end in the nation for receptions per game (5.8) and second for most receiving yards per game (69.5)
Breneman became the just third Minuteman selected to a major, national All-America team. A native of Barnstable, Mass., Connolly arrived in Amherst after seven seasons working with the football program at the University of South Carolina. During his time with the Gamecocks, he coached 30 NFL Draft picks, including the 2014 No. 1 selection Jadeveon Clowney, and 29 of his former players are currently active on NFL rosters.
Prior to his arrival in Columbia, S.C., Connolly served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at the University of Louisville. He worked with the Cardinal football program, primarily focusing on the skill position players. Connolly began his professional career at Harvard in 2007, assisting with all 41 sports, including the league's championship football team. He was hired as a full-time assistant strength and conditioning coach with the Crimson in 2008 and served as the head strength and conditioning coach for men's volleyball while continuing to assist with the other programs.
Connolly holds a Master of Science in physical education with a concentration in strength and conditioning from Bridgewater State, graduating magna cum laude in 2007. He is a 2004 graduate of the University of Hartford, where he earned degrees in criminal justice and sociology. He was a four-year letterwinner in baseball and was given the Senior Award for great sportsmanship and perseverance.Connolly is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches' Association (CSCCA) and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Connolly is a current competitor in Olympic weightlifting, drug-free powerlifting, Highland games and strongman competitions. He will be joined in Tempe by his wife, Shalona.