For the past 22 years, Fred Connors has been behind the bench for the St. Thomas University women’s basketball team.
His journey at STU began as a player. He played for the men’s basketball team in 1996. Connors excelled on the court, taking home several individual awards.
He was named STU’s Rookie of the Year in the 1996-97 season, following that up with winning the team’s MVP award twice. He was even named an All-Conference player.
When his player career ended, Connors shifted to a coaching role for the women’s basketball team. He took the role of head coach in the 2002-03 season.
Connors describes himself as a “defensive-minded” coach who works hard for his players. However, his style has changed and adjusted in the 22 years he’s been behind the bench.
“I think [STU is] a very intense program to be a part of. And I think at the end of the day, the players know how much we support them as a coaching staff,” said Connors. “We’re just trying to help people be their best.”
In the past 22 years, hundreds of players have come through the women’s basketball program. When their time is up, those players have worked to make a difference in their communities in some capacity, according to Connors. Some have gone on to become teachers and nurses, while others have become social workers.
Seeing where his former players end up after basketball and how they give back to their communities is what makes Connors the “proudest” as a coach.
“There’s been a lot of really, really good people that have come through this program over the last two decades.”
Connors said there have been some great memories over his career. One of them was when his team, in the early 2010s, found themselves on the positive end of a heroic comeback to reach the ACAA finals.
The team faced a 22-point deficit but were able to overcome and punch their tickets to the conference final. STU tied the game late in the fourth quarter before winning it at the buzzer.
“That was a pretty incredible game, but there’s been so many awesome and heartbreaking moments. And it’s been a pleasure to coach in this program and to be able to work with young women and as they go through their different journeys of the ups and downs of playing sport at a high level,” he said.
For Connors, the ACAA championships, individual coaching awards and appearances in the finals he has amassed over the past two decades were great. Yet, the accomplishments were not his best moments coaching basketball. That is reserved for coaching his three daughters: Emma, Nikki and Charlee.
Emma played for her father for the better part of three years. Meanwhile, Nikki helped her father for a couple of years as a student-trainer.
Charlee is currently dawning the green and gold on the court. She is in her third year with the team.
The only year where all three Connors children and their father were on the Tommies at the same time was two years ago. That year, Connors was the head coach, while his children helped in different aspects of the team. Nikki was the trainer, while Emma and Charlee took their talents to the court.
Emma ended up getting hurt and filling the role of team manager for the remainder of the season.
Connors described the experience as a “pretty special” moment for him and his family.
“It’s pretty cool when you can say to your players that you treat them like their family and that you’re trying to create a family environment within the program, but then to actually put it in place and have your daughters come join you on the team,” said Connors. “And it was neat to be able to go to the gym and have all three of them with me.”
“I’m hoping St. Thomas keeps allowing me to coach for as long as I want to. And [Charlee’s] got another year left and it’s amazing to coach her, to see her growth and to see how far she’s come this past season.”
As for whether retirement has ever crossed his mind, Connors said it is a topic that is important to explore.
However, retirement is not something Connors has thought about recently, given that Charlee joined the program a few years ago.
“I love working with young people that energizes me. It’s just something that I love to do and I’m very passionate about it. St. Thomas provides me with the opportunity to continue working with young women and help them develop as leaders in our community.”
“I just love coaching. I love the university,” he said.
