- Rich Connell enters his fifth year as head coach of the Middlebury College rowing program, having assumed the role in the fall of 2018.
- Connell graduated from Franklin Pierce College in 2007 with a double major in psychology and computer science, and was a member and captain of Pierce's rowing team from 2004-2007.
- Upon graduation, he became the assistant coach at Pierce from 2007-2009, earned his Master’s degree in Sports Management, and then went on to become head coach of rowing at the Dublin School in southern NH from 2010-2015.
- After a brief stint coaching Vermont Academy (2016-2017), and prior to his current position at Middlebury, he headed the Anchorage Rowing Association (ARA) in Alaska in 2017 and 2018.
- While in Vermont, Rich has also spent time coaching during the summers at Craftsbury Sculling Center (2019 to present), adopting their small boat focus with the Middlebury athletes.
- Aside from coaching, Connell also rowed for the MRRA in Lowell, MA from 2009-2015. During this time he competed at numerous regattas: Head of the Charles (2nd in club 4+ in 2014 & 2015), USRowing's National Championships (1st in 4- & 2- in 2013, 1st in 4+ in 2014), Canadian Henley (2nd in 2- in 2012), and the Royal Henley Regatta (quarterfinals in Britannia Cup 2013).
- Rich has taken up interest in various outdoor pursuits since then, including long endurance events, and continues to remain an active competitor in the rowing world in addition to being a full-time head coach.
- He currently lives in Monkton, VT with his wife, Sabra, and husky, Dakota.
Office: 219 South Main Street Middlebury, VT, 0575