Andrew Connolly was named the assistant coach for the women's tennis program in August of 2022, announced by head coach Ki Kroll.
Since joining the Roadrunners, he has been a part of a 14-win in 2023 and a 17-win season in 2024. In both seasons, UTSA advanced to the conference championship in Conference USA (2023) and the American Athletic Conference (2024). He has coached two all-conference selections and five ITA Scholar-Athletes through his two seasons. Additionally, Connolly has played an integral role in recruiting, helping UTSA receive votes in the Tennis Recruiting Network Top Mid Major rankings list for the first time in school history.
In 2024, the 'Runners started off scorching, going 9-3 to kick off the campaign, eventually finishing the season with a 9-0 record at home, marking the first undefeated home slate since 1992. UTSA also picked up critical victories on the road, toppling 55th-ranked Florida Atlantic, 4-3, for the highest-ranked win in the 21st century. The Roadrunners concluded the year with a 17-7 record for the most wins since 2003 and third-most in program history. The squad climbed to 61st in the ITA National Rankings, representing the school's highest-ever rankings.
"I'm very excited to be welcoming Andrew into our Roadrunner family," Kroll said. "He brings an array of strengths; strong playing ability, solid coaching experience and a true commitment to excellence. Andrew will be a great fit for our program and I look forward to all he will contribute in the coming years."
Connolly comes to the Alamo City from Wingate, where he was a graduate assistant from 2020-22. During his time with the Bulldogs, the men's team finished 26-12, and the women went 32-10, making an NCAA Tournament appearance in each of the four seasons of play. Wingate also dominated in the South Atlantic Conference action over Connolly's two seasons on staff, with three regular-season conference championships and the 2021 Women's SAC Tournament title.
Under Connolly's tutelage, the men reached as high as No. 20 in 2022 and No. 12 in 2021. The women were also a top-15 program in the country over Connolly's time, reaching highs of 11 and 12 in the national polls in 2022 and '21, respectively. Camilla Ciaccia and Suzuka Sambyakugari became the program's first doubles team selected as an ITA All-American in 2022. Meanwhile, on the men's side, Florian Walcher was named 2022 SAC Freshman of the Year.
Between the two teams, eight Bulldogs earned all-league honors in 2022, while seven were named to All-SAC teams in 2021.
Prior to Wingate, Connolly was an assistant women's coach at Christopher Newport University for one season. During the shortened 2019-20 campaign, Christopher Newport ranked as high as No. 25 in the ITA team rankings and finished ranked No. 31. Connolly was an instrumental piece in the recruiting process. The Tennis Recruiting Network released its top 25 rankings for the incoming freshman class and Christopher Newport women's tennis earned the No. 22 spot.
The 2019 season saw Ranta-aho and Reed make history as the first-ever tandem to earn a national doubles ranking of No. 18 in the final poll of the season. Additionally, in 2019, Ranta-aho was pegged No. 46 in the country according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) singles rankings.
Before beginning his coaching career, Connolly graduated from NAIA national powerhouse Keiser University in 2019.
While at Keiser, Connolly helped lead the Seahawks to three consecutive Sun Conference Championships from 2017-2019, as well as a No. 2 NAIA national ranking in 2018. During his time there, the Seahawks advanced to the NAIA National Championships Semi-Finals in 2017 and the Finals in 2018. He ranked as high as 5th in the ITA South Region and 7th in the NAIA in doubles. Subsequently, Connolly and his partner were named NAIA All-Americans for the 2017-2018 season.