Jan. 20, 2012

Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Joe Connolly has been named as the South Carolina Gamecocks’ Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach, head coach Steve Spurrier announced today. Connolly replace Craig Fitzgerald, who has resigned to pursue other opportunities.

“We feel very fortunate to have had Joe Connolly right here for the past three years,” said Coach Spurrier. “He and Coach Fitzgerald together put in the running and lifting programs we have in place at South Carolina. We will not miss a beat with Coach Connolly in charge of our strength and conditioning program. We wish Coach Fitz and his family all the best.”

Connolly, 29, joined the Gamecocks’ strength and conditioning staff in January 2009. In addition to his duties with the football team, Connolly has also worked with the Carolina track & field program.

Connolly began his career at Harvard where he worked for two years, assisting with all 41 sports at the Ivy League school. He then served as an assistant strength & conditioning coach at Louisville, working with football.

A native of Barnstable, Mass., Connolly is a 2004 graduate of the University of Hartford, where he earned degrees in criminal justice and sociology. He wa a four-year letterwinner in baseball. He also owns a master’s degree in strength & conditioning from Bridgewater State College. His wife’s name is Shalona.