Mark Connolly

Biography

Mark Connolly, who has provided guidance for the men's and women's track and field programs since their ascension to varsity status eight years ago, enters his eighth year at the helm of program in 2024-25 and 14th overall season with the track & field teams. He was promoted to head coach in August of 2018 after holding an interim tag for the 2017-18 season. Connolly, who helped build both programs from the ground up when he began his tenure as an assistant coach back in 2010, has played a major role in recruiting and coaching six All-Americans, a six-time national champion, and many more New England and Northeast-10 Conference champions. He helped coach six-time national champion Carly Muscaro '17 into the most decorated student-athlete in school and league history, and John Braga, who is the only male to qualify for the NCAA Championships in school history. Prior to his arrival at Merrimack, Connolly brought coaching experience from Lynn English High School, where he focused on sprint and field events. He is a USATF Level 1 Certified coach who served for six years as coach and clinic instructor in the summer youth program for Merrimack Valley Striders Running Club. Connolly is a 1987 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, where he majored in Economics and holds an MBA from Boston College's Carroll School of Business. He was a captain of the 1987 Crusaders' indoor and outdoor track teams and held the Holy Cross school record in the 500 meters for 21 years. A native of An