Arizona State strength and conditioning coach given prestigious recognition

Arizona State has been earning praise left and right after winning the Big 12 in their first season as members of the conference and taking Texas to two overtimes in the Peach Bowl. But on Monday, one of their most unsung heroes got some well-earned recognition.

Joe Connolly, the Sun Devils' lead strength and conditioning coach, was named the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year for the 2024 season by Football Scoop.

Connolly, whose official title is the Head Coach - Football Sports Performance - has been with Arizona State since 2018. He was one of the first hires Herm Edwards made when he was initially hired as head coach, and also one of the few key figures that Kenny Dillingham retained from that regime.

Connolly came to Arizona State from UMass, where he held the same role. Prior to working with the Minutemen, the Massachusetts native had cut his teeth as an assistant strength coach at both South Carolina under Steve Spurrier and Louisville under Charlie Strong.

The recognition from Football Scoop is one that's handed out every year and voted upon by former winners, as well as fellow strength and conditioning coaches. Connolly won the award after being one of three finalists, alongside the strength and conditioning coaches for two fellow playoff teams in Texas and Boise State.

In the announcement, Football Scoop paid close attention to the work Connolly did in helping Cam Skattebo reach a new level as a running back, as well as some quotes from players about Connolly's approach:

"The driving force for Arizona State's out-of-nowhere success was the emergence of All-American running back Cam Skattebo, and the reason for Skattebo's success, according to Skattebo, was Connolly.

“Our strength coach, Joe Connolly, he’s been great for me over the last year and a half,” Skattebo said before the season. “When coach Joe brought to my attention that I needed to get faster, that’s kind of something that I focused on. I didn’t really know how to run properly,” he said. “I run very tense. The thing is to run more relaxed when I run. It comes more natural (now).”"

"“He pushes you past the limits that you could think you would ever be pushed,” offensive lineman Bram Walden said over the summer. “He helps you reach a place in your mind where you never thought you’d be able to reach until you got here You know, I came from Oregon and I’ve never been pushed like this before, and I’ve done nothing but climb.”"

"“This is the most athletic I’ve ever been before,” added wide receiver Xavier Guillory, an Idaho State transfer. "I never ran as fast, pushed as much weight. [And] mentally, I’ve just been growing every single day.”"

Dillingham has previously praised the work of Connolly, whose track record speaks for itself after such a stellar year for the Sun Devils.

""Joe is one of the best strength coaches in the business," head coach Dillingham told FootballScoop. "Not only is he a great motivator and person, but his strength and conditioning program is based off of great blend of science and sweat. It pushes guys to become the best version of themselves on and off the field. Joe is an instrumental piece of our culture.""