Brett MacConnell is stepping into the spotlight as the new head coach at Dartmouth, marking a significant milestone in his basketball journey. This move comes after a successful stint as an assistant coach at Stanford, where he contributed to the Cardinal's impressive 20-12 season and their berth in the College Basketball Crown.
MacConnell, a Rutgers alum, has built a reputation for excellence over his 12 seasons on Mitch Henderson's staff at Princeton. His tenure there was marked by a series of recruiting triumphs, bringing in standout players like Caden Pierce, who earned back-to-back Ivy League Rookie and Player of the Year honors, and Tosan Evbuomwan, another Ivy League Player of the Year. His efforts also secured talents such as Jaelin Llewellyn, a four-star recruit, Devin Cannady, who went on to play for the Orlando Magic, and defensive stalwarts Myles Stephens and Amir Bell.
One of MacConnell's crowning achievements at Princeton was helping the team reach the Sweet 16 in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, a feat the program hadn't accomplished in 56 years. His influence was also pivotal in securing four Ivy League regular-season championships and two Ivy League Tournament titles.
MacConnell's rise in the coaching ranks began humbly as a student manager at Rutgers under Gary Waters and Fred Hill. He then honed his coaching skills with assistant roles at Delaware Valley College, Holy Family University, and Saint Peter’s University before making his mark at Princeton. Starting as the Director of Basketball Operations, he quickly climbed the ladder to assistant coach and later associate head coach by 2018.
Now, two decades after his start as a student manager, MacConnell is poised to lead Dartmouth's basketball program, bringing his wealth of experience and proven track record to the Big Green. His journey is a testament to dedication and skill, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting new chapter in his coaching career.