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Rich O'Conner
By
the time Assistant Football and Associate Head Baseball Coach Rich O'Connor
was a sophomore in high school, he knew he wanted to accomplish two things.
" I wanted to be a physical education instructor, and coach baseball and football,"
he said.
Rich gained his first experiences in both sports as an athlete. He played football and baseball at Waldwick High School and at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.
After earning a bachelor's degree in physical education, Rich went on to Seton Hall University to earn a master's in administration and supervision. Before arriving at MSU, Rich was athletic director and chair of Physical Education and Athletics at East Orange High School, where he also coached football. He joined Montclair State's Athletic Department in 1983.
"I'm grateful to be here because I work with great athletes and coaches who share my desiresÑto be successful, and to play football and baseball on a championship level," he said.
Rich said he's fortunate to have an opportunity to work with Rick Giancola, head football coach, and Norm Schoenig, head baseball coach. "During our time together, we've won seven New Jersey Athletic Conference championships, five National Collegiate Athletic Association tour invitations in football, and three national championships in baseball," he said.
This dual-sport coach also has become an expert in time management. "Football and baseball occur in separate seasons, but during the winter they overlap. While I'm recruiting for football, I'm coaching pre-season baseball," he explained. "I recruit on the road every day when football season ends, until baseball season begins. I visit roughly 110 high schools throughout New Jersey every year."
When Rich is not spending time with Charlene, his wife of 25 years, or his son, Michael, who attends Lockhaven University in Pennsylvania, he likes to read. "I predominately read professional articles to keep up with my career," he said, smiling.