SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Sacramento State Intercollegiate Athletics Director Dr. Terry Wanless officially announced the hiring of Mike Connors to the position of head women's rowing coach today.
Connors, who takes over for Bill Zack, becomes the fourth women's rowing coach in the program's eight-year intercollegiate history.
"When we interviewed Mike, he showed great intensity and a real passion to be successful," Wanless said. "He has a proven track record and I think he'll give our rowing program a chance to compete and qualify for the NCAA Championship in the very near future."
Connors has spent the past four years as the head men's rowing coach at UC Davis. During that time, Connors guided the Aggies' varsity eight to a Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association title in 2001 and a second-place finish at the same event in 2002. In addition, the Aggies' top boat became the first UCD varsity eight crew to compete at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships in 2001.
The team's second varsity eight also won the WIRA championship in 2001 and rowed to a silver medal at the WIRAs this past season. During his tenure, a total of 11 student-athletes received all-WIRA honors.
Connors coached the UCD men's novice crew for two years (1996-98) before being promoted to head coach. Prior to his time with UC Davis, the Spokane, Wash., native served as head coach of the Oakland Strokes Rowing Club (1994-95) and the Santa Clara women's team (1986-92).
"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to coach at Sacramento State," Connors said. "I'd like to build upon the winning tradition the program has shown over the years, and make steady progress towards our goal to compete at the national level."
Connors competed collegiately at Santa Clara (1979-83) and was elected to the Santa Clara Hall of Fame as a member of the 1982 Lightweight Eight. He graduated from Santa Clara with a bachelor's degree in management (1983) and a master's degree in business administration (1988).