COACHING RESPONSIBILITIES
- Fundraising
- Film and video operations
- Organizes male practice squad
- Assists with recruiting, day-to-day operations, practice planning, and game preparation
- Works primarily with guards
Connor McNelis is in his second season with the Nicholls State University women's basketball program as assistant coach. He joined the staff prior to the 2019-20 season.
McNelis came to Thibodaux after serving two years at Florida Atlantic University as video coordinator/player development. With the Owls, McNelis was responsible for utilizing Synergy and IMovie for highlights, game and practice breakdown, and recruiting highlights. He also helped formulate and create practice plans and assisted the coaches in creating scouting/game plans.
Prior to joining the Owls, McNelis spent three seasons at Southern Miss serving in multiple capacities for the Golden Eagles. Beginning in 2014, he was the men’s basketball team manager as well as a women’s basketball student assistant. With the men’s team, McNelis assisted with skill development and practice live drills. He also played a vital role in-game relaying opponent play calls to the coaches as well as providing a breakdown of opponent strategy at halftime and post-game. With the women’s team, McNelis was responsible for film breakdown using Synergy. He also assisted the coaching staff with all special assignments as well as organized and maintained practice plans and player shot charts.
McNelis grew up around the game of women’s basketball as his mother, Joye Lee McNelis, has been coaching at the collegiate level for more than 30 years and is currently the head women’s basketball coach at USM. Since 2005, McNelis has worked the yearly Joye Lee McNelis Basketball Camps assisting in all aspects of the individual, position, team and elite events. He has experience creating and conducting drills for all player skill levels. McNelis also worked Doc Sadler Basketball Camps from 2015-16 and aided in booking facilities, created and implemented fundamental station work and drills and handled product inventory.
A Mississippi native, McNelis graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sports coaching from USM in the summer of 2017. Before pursuing his education as a Golden Eagle, he earned a basketball scholarship and played one season (2012-13) at Emmanuel College.
