MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's head coach Randy Bennett announced today that former Gael Mickey McConnell has been hired as an assistant coach in preparation for the 2019-20 season. McConnell formerly played under Bennett from 2007-11 and has since spent eight years playing professionally, mainly overseas. 
 

"This is a tremendous opportunity for our program to bring back someone of Mickey's character and knowledge. He will bring a great deal of professional and on-court experience to our staff and team," Bennett said. "We are thrilled to have a Gael back on staff and can't wait to work with him on a daily basis. He comes from a coaching background, both his father and grandfather are legendary coaches in the state of Arizona, and he has always been a coach on the court everywhere he played."

Since graduating, McConnell has spent his entire professional career in Europe minus a one-year stint in 2013-14 with the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks' G-League team. The former Gael has played in Italy, Germany, Spain, and France and last appeared with Élan Béarnais in the French LNB Pro A league. In his final pro season, McConnell averaged nearly 36 minutes per game and 13.2 points while shooting 43.8 percent from beyond the

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"I'm really excited to come back and be a part of the men's basketball program. Since I graduated in 2011, it has always been a dream and goal of mine to be able to coach at SMC," McConnell said. "I'm grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to getting started."
 

McConnell ranks as one of the best players to ever wear a Gaels uniform as his name is littered among the program's record book. He sits in the top-5 all-time in 3-point percentage, 3-pointers made, and assists and posted one of the best perimeter shooting seasons in SMC history when he made 51 percent (77-of-151) of his attempts from deep as a junior.
 

The Mesa, Ariz. native became the sixth player in school history to earn WCC Player of the Year during his senior campaign when he averaged 16.4 points, 6.1 assists and owned an impeccable shooting line of .504/.456/.887. 
 

One of McConnell's crowning moments was his deep three-pointer late in the game against Villanova during the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament that helped propel the team to their first ever Sweet 16.