Simon Connor

Simon Connor returns to the Villanova sidelines for his 17th season as the top assistant on Michael Corrado's staff and his 12th as Associate Head Coach for the 2022-23 season. Connor was promoted to his current position in June, 2010.

Throughout his duration under Corrado, Connor has helped Villanova reach national recognition as one of the top lacrosse programs in the country. He is heavily involved in all aspects of the program and is directly responsible for the inception and direction of the offense, preparing scouting reports, designing game plans, assisting in player development and acting as the recruiting coordinator.

The 2021 season marked the ninth-straight year Villanova has qualified for the BIG EAST tournament: the most of any current member of the league. Connor has helped lead the team to 10 conference tournaments over the past 11 seasons as a member of both the BIG EAST and CAA conferences and guided Villanova to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances in 2009. The Wildcats also returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and 2018.

Villanova's squads have consistently played the best competition in the nation and the Wildcats strength of schedule has ranked in the top-5 in the NCAA every year dating back to 2009 according to laxpower.com. Additionally, in 2014 Connor was chosen to coach in the prestigious USILA North/South All-Star game alongside head coach Mike Corrado, where the staff led the South squad to a convincing 16-10 victory over the North.

Connor has led several players to individual accolades since being appointed associate head coach. Over the past ten seasons, 11 student-athletes have earned USILA All-America honors, eight have been named conference Player of the Years and a total of 55 have been chosen for all-conference laurels.

Nationally, Connor has guided 14 former players into the professional lacrosse ranks most recently Christina Cuccinello and Jake Froccaro.

Connor, a midfielder for the Wildcats in 2001-02, battled injuries throughout his time as a student-athlete before compartment syndrome sidelined his playing career at the end of his sophomore season. He began his coaching career as the head assistant and offensive coordinator at Harriton High School in Rosemont, Pa. before becoming the offensive coordinator at Whittier College in California. In his one year at Whittier, the Poets finished with an 8-7 record.

A 2004 Villanova alumnus, Connor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He currently resides in Philadelphia, Pa.