Michael Connolly is entering his third season as the Assistant Women's Tennis Coach in 2023-24, after he joined the coaching staff as the January 2022.
During his time in Lexington, the Generals have produced an overall record of 35-14, two ODAC championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Connolly’s assistance with the team has consistently excelled on both the national and conference levels. The commitment to fostering a balanced environment is evident through the team's recognition as a 2022 & 2023 ITA All-Academic Team, boasting an impressive count of 22 ITA Scholar-Athletes across both years. The program's individual prowess is exemplified by the achievements of three ITA All-Americans in singles in Taylor Garcia '22, Gabi Moss '24, and Lauren Long '26. Beyond these accolades, Connolly has helped the growth of student-athletes like Garcia and Long, who reached the second round of the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Singles Tournaments. His assistance with recruiting efforts has been evident as the program has had the 14th- and 19th-ranked recruiting classes in Division III for the 2022 and 2023 classes, helping continue the recruiting success Head Coach Erin Ness has established. Additionally, the team continues to be prevalent in the Division III national rankings in every poll published.
Â
Connolly began his coaching career during his tenure as the Graduate Assistant Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at North Central College, where he helped post a 39-12 overall record between both programs. Spearheading recruitment endeavors, he helped secure the top-rated recruits domestically and internationally the program has seen. During his time at North Central, the women’s tennis teams saw their first and second CCIW championships resulting in the first appearances in the NCAA Tournament in school history. His roles extended to practice planning, individual sessions, and match coaching, accompanied by off-court conditioning schedules. His engagement in social media content creation amplified team visibility, showcasing his commitment to the promotion of the programs.
Â
Connolly earned his Master of Arts in Sports Leadership from North Central College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from Illinois College. Connolly served as a four-year team captain on the Blueboys’ men’s tennis team, finishing his career with the most doubles wins in program history and the third-most singles wins in program history. He also helped the team set a program single-season record for wins in 2019.
Â
