LATROBE, Pa. (Aug. 31) -- A coaching veteran with more than a decade of coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level, Joe Conner has been named assistant men's lacrosse coach at Saint Vincent College.
Conner arrives at Saint Vincent after a five-year stint on the staff at Dartmouth College, where he primarily oversaw the Big Green's offensive unit, and helped the squad reach new heights.
In 2023, Dartmouth recorded its most wins in a season since 2008, while scoring 17 or more goals in three different games. The Big Green received national votes in both the USILA and Inside Lacrosse polls throughout the season, while they totaled their highest single-season goal output (140) since 2008 and scored man-up goals in 15 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation.
The Big Green increased their win total every season since 2019 (excluding the one-game 2021 COVID-abbreviated season), while posting a 13-5 non-conference record between 2020-23.
Prior to Dartmouth, Conner spent nine years on the Bucknell University coaching staff, serving as top assistant for seven seasons and associate head coach his final two seasons. He helped lead the Bison to their first-ever Patriot League championship, with the 2013 squad ranked as high as sixth in the national polls.
In 2012, his Bucknell offensive unit posted the highest shooting percentage in the nation, while setting program records for goals (179), assists (108) and points (287). In 2016, the Bison ranked 20th nationally in scoring offense, averaging over 11 goals per game, while in 2018, Bucknell scored 12 goals per game to rank 16th in Division I. Four members of the 2018 Bison squad went on to be selected in the Major League Lacrosse Draft.
Conner began his coaching career at his alma mater, Mount Saint Mary's (Md.), serving a two-year stint as assistant coach. He helped the Mountaineers earn the No. 2 seed in the Northeast Conference playoffs, with their defense ranking ninth nationally in goals-against average.
Conner earned his bachelor's degree in 2007 from Mount Saint Mary's, before earning a master's from his alma mater in 2009. As a men's lacrosse student-athlete, he played for three seasons at Binghamton as a midfielder, before transferring to Mount Saint Mary's as a senior, where he played attack.
He is a native of Ijamsville, Maryland, and played both lacrosse and football at Urbana High School. He earned All-America honors in lacrosse and was the starting quarterback for the Urbana football team that won four straight state championships, as he still holds the Frederick County single-season record for touchdown passes (28).
Conner and his wife, Erin, have three children – sons Ethan and Jace, and daughter Gia. They reside in Unity Township.
