Bio

Tim Connelly joined the Carnegie Mellon University Department of Athletics as the head coach for men’s and women’s cross country in March 2015.

In 10 years at the helm, Connelly has led the men’s cross country team to nine straight NCAA Championship appearances, five University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships, and six regional championships.

Connelly has been named the UAA Coach of the Year five times while earning Regional Coach of the Year five times following each of the Tartans’ championship runs in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2024.

The 2023 team finished sixth at the NCAA Championships, tying the school's best performance. They earned the program’s fifth straight regional championship with graduate student Matthew Porter winning the regional race. All seven runners earned All-Region accolades for placing in the top 35 at the meet with all seven finishing in the top 12.

The 2024 team also won the regional championship with all seven runners earning All-Region accolades and placed 11th at the NCAA Championships with Matthew Coyle and Ryan Podnar earning All-America honors. Coyle also became the first UAA Champion under Connelly.

Major Team Highlights

• NCAA Appearances: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Regional Championships: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Top 3 All-Region Finishes: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
• Best NCAA Finish: 2023 – 6th
• 5 UAA Championships: 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023

Major Runner Highlights

• 3 All-Americans
• 58 All-Region accolades
• 1 UAA Champion
• 4 UAA Rookies of the Year
• 41 All-UAA honorees

Career Highlights

• Head coach at the University of Notre Dame for 26 years
• Third-place finish at NCAA Championship in 2002
• Fourth-place finish at NCAA Championship in 2004
• 12 NCAA Championship appearances
• Three Great Lake Regional Championships
• Two BIG EAST Championships
• Mentored 15 All-Americans and 28 All-BIG EAST runners
• Three-time BIG EAST Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005)
• Three-time Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year (2002, 2003, 2009)
• Assistant women’s track and field coach at the University of Notre Dame
• Coached 32 All-Americans in track and field; 14 BIG EAST individual champions
• Track teams won three BIG EAST indoor championships and two outdoor championships; had nine second-place finishes (four indoor, five outdoor)
• Part of five BIG EAST Women’s Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year awards (indoor – 2002, 2006, 2013; outdoor – 2007, 2013)
• Assistant coach at Syracuse University in 1986
• Graduate assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame from 1983-85

Athletic Career

• Cross country and track and field athlete at the University of Notre Dame

Family

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Connelly and his wife, the former Donna Southerly, are the parents of two children -- daughter, Ali, and son, Brendan. Ali is an elementary school teacher who graduated from West Virginia University after competing on the women's soccer team, while Brendan is a graduate of DePauw University.