UNews - Mike Connolly

Connolly lands at Keyano

trevor.kenney — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:09:45 +0000

Former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball head coach Mike Connolly will be back patrolling the sidelines this season, heading up the Keyano College Huskies.

Connolly was hired as the Huskies new head coach late last week, returning to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference where he previously had great success with the Medicine Hat College Rattlers. Connolly, who spent seven years at the helm of the Pronghorns program, won a pair of ACAC bronze medals while with Medicine Hat College and was a two-time coach of the year at the college level.

"We welcome coach Connolly to Fort McMurray as we prepare to compete in the ACAC in September 2010," says Wade Kolmel, Huskies Athletic Director at Keyano College, on the school's athletics website. "On our campus coach Connolly will fulfill our Adult Program Coordinator responsibilities and will continue our commitment to growing the sport and recreation offerings within the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre."

Keyano College basketball is making its debut in the ACAC North Division this season after winning both men's and women's championships last season in the Alberta Colleges Athletic League.

"Coach Connolly brings a wealth of experience to our basketball program and we feel he will make an immediate impact in our community," adds Kolmel. "Whenever you attract a leader in their chosen field, to a new program such as ours, an athletic director cannot help but be excited for the future of their department, not to mention the future of the basketball team."

Adams assumes leadership role

trevor.kenney — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:08:54 +0000

It's not as though Dave Adams (BEd '82) was looking for a job – it just so happened that the job came calling for him.

The new head coach of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball program has been a teacher, a principal and a business manager but those roles only masked what Adams felt was always his destiny.

"My life was blessed with parents who instilled in me a work ethic and more importantly, a courage to follow my passions and my dreams," says Adams. "Most people are going to shake their heads at this, taking a risk, making a career change. To me, you have to follow your heart, your dreams and your passion. This was the right time and place."

He was in the right place once before but the timing was off. A one-year stint as the Horns interim head coach in 2001-02 didn't last when he was passed over for the full-time position for Mike Connolly. When Connolly resigned that position this spring, Adams again threw his hat into the ring.

"It comes down to being a proud alumni, a proud former player and a proud former coach," says Adams. "Experience helps me understand the essence, the spirit, the heart and courage of being a Horn. It's a calling, and even though it's a piece I didn't see coming back in my life, here I am, once again."

A Pronghorns player from 1976-81, Adams made the most of his BEd degree, delving directly into teaching at Catholic Central High School. He also started a second basketball career, this time as a coach. He would continue to teach by day and coach by night, eventually taking the helm at Lethbridge College and leading the Kodiaks for four successful seasons (including an ACAC silver medal and two bronze medals).

Eventually, Adams would find his way back to the U of L, assisting Dave Crook from 1999 through 2001. Along the way he would work with the provincial basketball program (1993-97) and get a shot at the national level, working with the Basketball Canada Centre for Performance from 2004 to 2006. All the while he was a school principal (St. Francis Junior High School) and most recently, executive director of Lethbridge Family Services.

It might look like a circuitous route but the touchstone over time has always been the U of L. It's a legacy Adams wants to share with his fellow alumni to help reengage what he terms "Horns Nation".

"We're sitting on 39 years of teams here. One of the big things we need to do is go back to 39 years of Pronghorns and say come on guys, come on back to the table and sit with us, and let's do this together," Adams says. "Dave Adams, in isolation, the Horns, in isolation, will never reach that dream of winning a national championship, it must be us collectively as a Horns Nation that does that."

There's an effusive energy about Adams that invites grand ideas, and the new coach does not shy away from his goal of bringing a national title to southern Alberta, despite taking over a program that has missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons.

"I would not be sitting here today if my goal for Horns Nation was not to win a national championship," he says.

"To me, it's a challenge that the U of L has reached in several sports, those are proud moments in our history and there's no reason for me, at this point in my life or career, to come here for any other reason."

GET THE FACTS

• Adams averaged 11.9 points per game playing for the Horns in the 1980-81 season. He totalled 76 games in a Pronghorns uniform over his career

• An avid distance runner, Adams trains for both marathons and triathlons. He is currently the national champion for his age group in sprint distance and is a six-time Canadian National Triathlon Team member. He is currently training for the World Triathlon Championships in Gold Coast, Australia.

• Adams' U of L ties run deep. He is married to Assistant Dean, Field Experience, Faculty of Education, Dr. Pamela Adams. Their daughter, Brittney, is a second-year political science student at the U of L

• Adams has the endorsement of his players. "I'm excited, his style of coaching is something I really feel good about," says guard Quinn Van Gaalen.

Adams introduced as new Horns coach

trevor.kenney — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:34:10 +0000

Dave Adams is the new man on the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus – again.

Adams, the one-time Pronghorn basketball player, U of L alumnus and now two-time coach, was announced as the new head coach of the men's basketball program, Friday. It will be his second tour of duty, after guiding the team in the 2001-02 season, and brings Adams back to a place that's always been in his heart.

"It comes down to being a proud alumni, a proud former player, a proud former coach," Adams says. "I understand the essence, the spirit, the heart and courage of being a Horn. It's a calling. It's a piece I didn't see coming back into my life and yet here I am once again."

Adams, an assistant coach from 1999 through 2001, previously served as interim coach between the Dave Crook and Mike Connolly regimes. Connolly resigned as Horns head coach earlier this spring after missing the playoffs for six consecutive seasons.

"It is exciting to have Dave back with the Pronghorn family, he brings a high level of enthusiasm and energy to the program," says Executive Director of Sport and Recreation Services Sandy Slavin.

Adams is quick to state his purpose as leader of the program and doesn't shy away from creating lofty expectations.

"I would not be here today if we did not set our sights on a national championship," he says.

In his only previous season as Horns head coach, the club finished third in the division and fell in three games to the Saskatchewan Huskies in the first round of Canada West playoffs. Connolly took over the roster and qualified for playoffs the next season as well. The Horns have failed to make the playoffs since.

"It is a great honour and humbling experience to be handed the torch of stewardship for Horns Basketball," says Adams. "We are thrilled to accept the exciting challenges ahead."

In addition to his coaching experience at the university level, Adams has been a fixture on the southern Alberta Basketball scene, coaching for more than 30 years at numerous levels.

His coaching career began at Catholic Central High School immediately after his playing career, before moving on to the Lethbridge College Kodiaks in 1984. In four seasons with the Kodiaks, Adams compiled a record of 104-28 including three one silver and two bronze ACAC medals.

A Lethbridge resident for 35 years, he also has extensive experience with provincial and national organizations, coaching with the provincial program from 1993-97 and with the Basketball Canada Centre for Performance from 2004 to 2006.

As the Head Coach of the Provincial program, Adams led Team Alberta to a silver medal at the Western Canada Games in 1993. He was also at the helm for silver and bronze medals for Team Alberta at the National Championships.

As a player, Adams suited up for 76 games for the Horns, from 1976-81, having his best season during the 1980-81 season when he averaged 11.9 points per game.

"We invite all those loyal basketball supporters in southern Alberta to join us in the creation of Horns Nation, and to support the Horns as we move into the future," says Adams.

Coaching search process goes public

trevor.kenney — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:23:42 +0000

The search for a new ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball team head coach will go public tonight when three short-listed candidates give public presentations on campus.

Mike Hansen, Richard Bohne and Dave Adams are scheduled to present for 20-30 minutes each in Room PE261. Hansen will take centre stage at 6:30 p.m., followed by Bohne at 7:30 p.m. and Adams at 8:30 p.m.

Hansen (BA '96, BEd '99) is a former Pronghorn player who played under former head coach Dave Crook. He coached at the high school level and has been coaching the Lethbridge College Kodiaks of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference.

Bohne is a Raymond, Alta. native and one of the best players ever produced by southern Alberta. He starred for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary Dinos and has most recently been coaching high school basketball in the United States.

Adams (BEd '82) is a former Pronghorn player who also took a brief turn as Pronghorn head coach for the 2001-02 season. He served as a transition between Dave Crook and Mike Connolly, who recently resigned as head coach after seven years with the program.

Tonight's session is open to all.

Search begins for new men's basketball coach

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:58:32 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's basketball team is looking for a new head coach.

Mike Connolly, head coach of the Pronghorns since the start of the 2002-03 season, resigned his position Monday afternoon after seven seasons of diligent work with the program.

"Anyone that knows Mike knows that basketball and his Pronghorn teams have been his passion," says Executive Director of Athletics, Sandy Slavin. "For the past seven years he has invested considerable time and energy into his team to develop his players as athletes, students and young men. His contributions to the basketball program, the Department of Athletics and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ have taken the program in several good directions and have been appreciated."

In addition to coaching the Pronghorns, Connolly was responsible for building a strong Pronghorn Summer Club program that has supported the development of many young basketball players in southern Alberta. He was also behind the establishment of an annual Basketball Jamboree, connecting many high school athletes to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Connolly, who came to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ after two seasons as head coach at Medicine Hat College, was very active in the community, sharing his passion for the sport of basketball. His successor will be expected to continue growing these positive connections with the southern Alberta basketball community and enhancing the profile of the Pronghorn program.

Under his leadership, the Pronghorns consistently challenged for the Canada West playoffs but only managed to make the post-season in Connolly's first year, 2002-03. He guided the team to three eight-win seasons during his tenure. In seven seasons at the helm, his teams posted a 44-102 regular season record.

A search for the next Pronghorn men's basketball head coach will begin immediately.

Basketball Horns announce recruits

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:50:49 +0000

The Pronghorns men's basketball team is calling on its past to help with the future.

The Horns announced a pair of new recruits for the 2009-2010 season, and included in the mix is the son of a former Pronghorn and second team Canada West all-star. Chestermere Lakers Sean McCormick and Kyle Wilson have each signed a letter of intent to suit up for the Pronghorns next season.

McCormick, a six-foot-five guard, is tagged by head coach Mike Connolly as one of the most sought after players in the province. He joins the Horns with a great deal of provincial team experience, winning silver at nationals with Team Alberta U15 in 2006 and capturing silver last summer on Team Alberta U17.

This season with the Lakers, McCormick has averaged 27 points and 10 rebounds a game.

"Sean is a very competitive person, it doesn't matter if it is a big championship game or PE Class in high school, Sean is going to compete to win and it is that attitude that the Pronghorns need to take the program to the next level," says Connolly.

A shooting guard, Wilson becomes a second generation Pronghorn, following in the footsteps of his father Rob, who suited up for the Horns from 1978 to 1981. Rob was a Canada West second team all-star in his final season with the Horns.

At six-foot-six, Wilson is averaging 17 points and 6.8 rebounds a game with Chestermere this season, hitting on 30 per cent of his three-point attempts. Wilson was also an alternate member of this year's U-17 Provincial Team.

"Coming from a basketball family, Kyle brings an above average basketball intelligence," says Connolly. "He is also a person of strong character, possessing the will to win; these attributes will immediately impact the Pronghorn program in a positive way."

Both McCormick and Wilson come from a winning program at Chestermere High School, where they won the 2008 3A Alberta Provincial Championships and are the favourites this year to repeat.

"I am very happy to add such quality young men to the program, hopefully this is only the start of a real quality recruiting class," adds Connolly. "McCormick and Wilson are top notch recruits and I am working on a few others that will also have immediate impacts on the program."

UNews - Mike Connolly

Connolly lands at Keyano

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