Men's and Women's Skiing



Warren Palmer
Skiing - Alpine Head Coach


4th season
wjp@together.net
802.654.2858


Warren Palmer, the president of the Smuggler's Notch Ski Club, enters his 4th year as the head coach of the Purple Knights' Men's and Women's Alpine ski team in 2007-2008. Palmer is responsible for all coaching duties for the Division II program, which competes in the Eastern Intercollegiate Skiing Association against all of the top programs in the East including Vermont, Dartmouth and Middlebury.

"I am excited to be a part of the Saint Michael's Alpine ski program," said Palmer. "Every effort will be made on my part, and the part of the entire Smuggler's Notch Ski Club staff, to ensure a quality experience for all Saint Michael's Alpine athletes this season."

Palmer has coached Alpine skiers at various levels for the past 20+ years. In addition to privately coaching many FIS-level skiers, Palmer also coached Felix McGrath when he competed on the U.S. Pro circuit. Palmer assisted McGrath his first three seasons as the University of Vermont's Alpine ski coach, and spent nine seasons as the head Alpine coach at Mount Mansfield Union High School in his hometown of Jericho. A former member of the U.S. Development Team, Palmer has been in the real estate development business for more than 20 years.




Joe Connelly
Skiing - Nordic Head Coach

Saint Michael's '87
7th season
jconnelly@smcvt.edu
802.654.2616


Saint Michael's College graduate Joe Connelly enters his 7th season as head coach of the Purple Knights' Men's & Women's Nordic Ski team in 2007-2008. Connelly, along with first year assistant coach Ross Scatchard, is responsible for all coaching duties for the program, which competes in the Eastern Intercollegiate Skiing Association against the top programs in the East. In Connelly's first six seasons as head coach the team has grown from three student-athletes to fielding a full squad of 12 racers and looks to qualify skiers for the NCAA Championships in the near future.

In addition to his work with the ski program, Connelly has been the head coach of the Saint Michael's Men's Cross Country team since 2001.

Connelly brings a well rounded background in endurance sports competition and coaching to Saint Michael's. He has raced in 20 marathons, including 10 consecutive Boston Marathons, multiple 50k ski marathons, and competed extensively on the U.S. Triathlon Series, including the 1989 USTS National Championship.

Connelly is a 1987 graduate of Saint Michael's with a degree in Accounting. He lettered on the Nordic team all four years and also was a Cross Country letter winner his junior and senior years. A native of Glenville, NY, Connelly competed in Nordic and Alpine Skiing, Golf and Tennis at Scotia-Glenville High School. Prior to joining the coaching staff of Saint Michael's, Connelly was employed as an accountant in the long-term care and software industries. A resident of Burlington, he currently serves as Technical Coordinator for RunVermont, Inc, producer of the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon and other sporting events and camps.




Ross Scatchard
Skiing - Nordic Assistant Coach

Allegheny '07
1st season
ross.scatchard@gmail.com


Ross Scatchard, a December 2007 graduate of Allegheny College with a degree in Environmental Science, enters his 1st season as assistant coach of the Purple Knights' Men's & Women's Nordic Ski team in 2007-2008. Scatchard will assistant head coach Joe Connelly with all coaching duties for the program, which competes in the Eastern Intercollegiate Skiing Association against the top programs in the East.

Scatchard, a native of Charlotte, VT, attended high school at Champlain Valley Union and competeed on their ski team all 4 years. At Allegheny College, he was a member of their Cycling Team. He has raced locally with Team Bliss and has worked in a coaching capacity with their junior riders program. He brings a strong knowledge of training systems and a hands-on coaching perspective to Saint Michaels.