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Connoyer Tabbed Next Hurricane Softball Coach
7/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
July 14, 2004
Tulsa, Okla. - The University of Tulsa Softball named Christy Connoyer as the school's head softball coach as announced today by TU Director of Athletics Judy MacLeod. Connoyer becomes the fourth coach in the history of the program.
"This is obviously a very exciting opportunity for me," said Connoyer. "I am eager to continue building upon the success James Pinkerton and his staff produced with Tulsa softball and am ready to help the current team achieve their goals on and off the field. I am proud to be a part of a special program that is definitely on the rise."
Connoyer has been an assistant coach at Purdue for the past eight seasons, helping lead the Boilermakers to 266 victories during that time and seven winning seasons. During her tenure at Purdue, she worked primarily with hitting and defense, as well as coaching first base. Connoyer also coordinated team travel, recruiting along with working closely with the compliance staff and coordinating the Boilermakers' home tournaments. She also served as the team's liaison with the academic counselors, monitoring student-athlete progress and planned various community service activities for the squad. In addition to her daily duties at Purdue, Connoyer has been involved in various camps, clinics and speaking engagements.
"I owe a great deal to Coach Bruggeman at Purdue," Connoyer added. "She has given me tremendous support over the past eight years, and her mentoring has definitely developed me into the coach I am today."
A four-year starter at Notre Dame (1990-94), Connoyer played shortstop and second base, where she led the team in hitting as a freshman and in RBI as a junior. She was co-captain as a senior of the first Fighting Irish team to earn an NCAA Regional bid in 1994. She also earned the team's Most Valuable Player her junior season. A standout player, Connoyer was named to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference first team all-conference squad all four years. She still ranks among the leaders in the UND record books for both assists in a single season and career, as well as games played in a single season.
Academically, the native of Bethalto, Ill., graduated with a bachelor's degree in government and international studies in 1994. She then obtained her master of arts in teaching in 1996 through the University of Portland, Notre Dame and the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), a two-year teaching service project.
She was named to Notre Dame's Dean's List, won an Americorps National Service Grant and the C. Albert Koob Award, which is a National Catholic Educational Association award. In addition, Connoyer was a recipient of Notre Dame's Award of the Year in 1996 for service and leadership in education.
Prior to coming to Purdue, Connoyer was the head varsity volleyball coach and assistant varsity basketball and softball coach at Loyola College Preparatory in Shreveport, La. She took a brand new volleyball team to a pair of state tournament appearances. Connoyer also helped the Flyers win the 1996 Class 2A State Softball Championship.
"I look forward to working with the quality softball student-athletes at Tulsa and becoming a part of the Golden Hurricane tradition," said Connoyer.
