Jacob Connealy began coaching at Benedictine College in January 2023. Later that same year, he was named Director of Cross Country and Track and Field. A distinguished alumnus and former decorated student-athlete, Connealy has quickly ushered in a era of championship excellence for the program.
Championship Success & National Accolades
Under Connealy’s leadership, the program has maintained an extraordinary standard of competitive excellence, capturing eight Conference Championships out of a possible 18 across all disciplines. His tenure has seen the development of two National Champions and eleven All-Americans.
Connealy's coaching excellence has earned him numerous conference honors, including being named a five-time Heart of America Conference Coach of the Year:
- Women's Cross-Country Coach of the Year: 2023, 2025
- Women's Indoor Track & Field Coach of the Year: 2024
- Women's Outdoor Track Coach of the Year: 2025
- Men's Outdoor Track Coach of the Year: 2026
Team Achievements & Postseason Appearances
The program’s trophy room has expanded substantially under Connealy’s guidance, securing multiple Heart of America Conference titles and maintaining a consistent presence on the national stage:
- Heart of America Conference Team Titles:
- Women's Cross Country: 2023, 2025
- Men's Cross Country: 2023
- Women's Indoor Track: 2023
- Men's Indoor Track: 2023, 2024
- Women's Outdoor Track: 2025
- Men's Outdoor Track: 2026
- NAIA National Championship Track & Field Qualifiers:
- Men's & Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track: 2023, 2024, 2025
- NAIA National Championship Cross Country Qualifiers:
- Women's Cross Country: 2023, 2024, 2025
- Men's Cross Country: 2023, 2025
Coaching Philosophy
Connealy believes in the personal growth of all his athletes, as he strives to develop not just the athlete, but the whole person. This includes their spiritual life, social life, academic life, and family life. There is so much more to life than sports. The goal is for our athletes to learn how to live a balanced and healthy life so they can go on from here and do the same thing for others. This is how Benedictine will transform the culture of America one student at a time.
Background & Elite Coaching Credentials
Connealy brought a wealth of specialized coaching expertise back to his alma mater. He previously served as a jumps coach at Gross Catholic High School and spent time at Mount Michael High School, where he coached throwers and jumpers to numerous state qualifying berths.
He holds a suite of professional credentials from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and USA Track & Field (USATF):
- USTFCCCA Throwing Events Specialist
- USATF Jumps Level 2 Track and Field Coach
- USATF Level 2 Sports Science
- USATF Cross Country Specialist
- USATF Level 1 Track and Field Coach
- Specialized certifications in Coaching Race Walk and Basic Principles of Endurance Training
- CPR Certified
Athletic Career
Prior to coaching, Connealy was one of the most versatile and dominant athletes in program history. As a student-athlete at Benedictine College, he was an All-American Decathlete, securing a 6th-place finish at the 2015 NAIA Outdoor National Championships. He was an eight-time NAIA National Qualifier and an eight-time Conference Champion.
Connealy earned his Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Benedictine College. He resides in Atchison with his wife, Chelsey, and their two daughters.
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