Athletics
Men's and Women's Skiing
| Joe Connelly '87 | |
 |
Skiing - Nordic Head Coach
Saint Michael's '87 Ninth season jconnelly@smcvt.edu 802.654.2616 |
Saint Michael's College graduate Joe Connelly enters his ninth season as head coach of the Purple Knights' Men's & Women's Nordic Ski team in 2009-10. Connelly, along with third-year assistant coach Ross Scatchard, are 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 eight 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.
| Warren Palmer | |
|
Skiing - Alpine Head Coach
Sixth season wpalmer@smcvt.edu 802.654.2858 |
|
Warren Palmer, the president of the Smuggler's Notch Ski Club, enters his sixth year as the head coach of the Purple Knights' Men's and Women's Alpine ski team in 2009-10. 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.
In 2009, Palmer coached the Purple Knights' first skier to compete in the NCAA Championships in seven seasons, as junior Brad Harden finished 19th in the slalom and 30th in the giant slalom.
"The past five years have been a fantastic experience for me and the staff at the Smuggler's Notch Ski Club," said Palmer. "We have truly enjoyed being a part of the growing Saint Michael's ski program, and seeing the level of competition rise has been very rewarding. With returning athletes and a strong incoming class, I believe we will continue to see the bar rise as we enter the 2009-10 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.
| Gus MacLeod '02 | |
|
Skiing - Alpine Technical Coach
First season amacleod@smcvt.edu 435.640.8521 |
|
Saint Michael's College graduate Gus Macleod returns to his alma mater for his first season as Technical Coach for both the men's and women's alpine ski teams in 2009-10.
Macleod, a Vermont native, attended high school at Carrabassett Valley Academy in Maine before skiing competitively at Plymouth (N.H.) State University for two seasons. Macleod then transferred to Saint Michael's, where he again skied competitvely before earning his bachelor of science degree in business administration in 2002.
After graduating from Saint Michael's, Macleod spent two seasons coaching at the Mount Mansfield Ski Club in Stowe, Vt. After that, he accepted a position working for the United States Ski Team (USST), where he spent the past four seasons. Macleod worked and traveled with the men's alpine team while with the USST, and spent the past two seasons with the men's World Cup Speed Team.
"Gus is a great guy who brings a lot to the table for Saint Michael's skiing," said head coach Warren Palmer upon Macleod's hiring. "Gus's athleticism, combined with his knowledge for the sport, and his experiences as a coach and a student-athlete at the College, make him a perfect fit as we continue to meet the challenges associated with a growing program."
