LATROBE, Pa. (June 14) – Saint Vincent College has announced the appointment of Joe Conner as head women's lacrosse coach.
Conner, who served as the Bearcats' assistant men's lacrosse coach for the 2023-24 year, has a wealth of high-level collegiate lacrosse coaching and playing experience.
"I've been extremely impressed with Joe since he arrived on campus last summer," said Saint Vincent College interim athletic director D.P. Harris. "He is an intelligent and accomplished coach with a long and successful background coaching in the Ivy League, and we are fortunate to have him. Joe made an immediate connection with our men's team when he arrived last year, and I know he will do the same with our women."
"I am honored to be named the head women's lacrosse coach at Saint Vincent College," Conner said. "It's very exciting for me and my family to have this opportunity to contribute to such an outstanding institution. I look forward to using my knowledge and experience to help provide growth and fun to our current student-athletes as well as future Bearcats. Saint Vincent College is truly a special community with all the resources needed to build and sustain a highly competitive championship environment. I would like to thank our head men's lacrosse coach, Zach Wilfong, D.P. Harris, executive vice president and COO Dr. Jeff Mallory, and College president Father Paul Taylor, O.S.B., for bringing me and my family to Saint Vincent and welcoming us with open arms. I can't wait to get started!"
During his first season with the Bearcat men's lacrosse team, Conner primarily coached the offense, which scored at least 10 goals in 11 different games, while averaging 13.5 goals against PAC foes, including four games with more than 15 goals. His offense averaged 40.8 shots per game and ranked third in the PAC with 22 man-up goals. Seven different players registered at least 10 goals, with four scoring 20 or more, including All-PAC performers Jordan Billet, who scored 41, Caleb Hawkins (30) and Carter Haid (24).
Prior to arriving at Saint Vincent in August 2023, Conner served as associate coach at Division I Dartmouth College for five seasons. 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 Coaches Poll and Inside Lacrosse/Media Poll throughout the season, while they totaled their highest single-season goal output (140) since 2008 and scored man-up goals in 15 straight 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.
Before his tenure at 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. In 2011, he helped lead the Bison to their first-ever Patriot League Championship, while in 2012, his offensive unit posted the highest shooting percentage in the nation and established program records for goals (179), assists (108) and points (287). The 2013 squad was ranked as high as sixth in the national poll, the highest ranking in program history. Bucknell's 2014 recruiting class, which saw four players drafted professionally, was ranked 13th nationally by Inside Lacrosse. In 2016, the Bison ranked 20th nationally in offense, averaging more than 11 goals per game, while in 2018, they scored 12 goals per game to place 16th in Division I.
Conner began his coaching career at his alma mater, Mount St. Mary's, 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 St. 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 St. 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.
Conner inherits the SVC women's program from Jym Walters, who retired at the conclusion of the 2024 season after amassing a 106-83 record over 12 seasons.
