The spring of 2012 will be the 14th season as head coach of the Bowdoin baseball team for Mike Connolly. Connolly, who joined the staff in 1999 after a four-year stint as an assistant at Brandeis (Mass.) University, is the 17th coach in the 140-year history of the Bowdoin baseball program. In 2009 Connolly became the all-time wins leader in Bowdoin baseball history. His current total of 250 wins bests his predecessor Harvey Shapiro who held the previous mark at 189.

In his years at Bowdoin, he has turned the program into one of the most successful in New England as the squad has set a school record for wins in a single-season on three different occasions. In addition, the Polar Bears set a school mark of 28 wins in 2006, earning the NESCAC Eastern Division crown and reaching their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid. In 2010, the Polar Bears advanced to the NESCAC Championship game and won 25 games - the second most in program history. Again, in 2011, the Polar Bears reached the NESCAC Championship, but mother nature cancelled Bowdoin's chance of a NESCAC title.

Bowdoin had a breakout season in 2004 under Connolly, surpassing 20 wins in a season for the first time in school history. As a result, Connolly was named NESCAC Coach of the Year as the team qualified for their first-ever NESCAC Tournament. The Polar Bears have consistently been ranked in the New England Coaches' poll for the past number of seasons and have earned a reputation as one of the hardest-working squads in the region.

Before joining Bowdoin, Connolly was an assistant coach for Brandeis and Stonehill (Mass.) Colleg. He has also gained teaching experience by working with the Waltham (Mass.) Public School system and Brockton (Mass.) High School. Connolly has also worked extensively with a variety of baseball camps in Eastern Massachusetts as an instructor and lecturer.

Connolly graduated from Brandeis in 1994 with a Bachelor's degree in American Studies. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Brandeis baseball team and was twice named All-New England as a third baseman. After his junior season, Connolly was also selected a Greater Boston League All-Star, an Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star and a University Athletic Association All-Star. He was also a two-year member of the Judges' men's basketball team, receiving the Stein Award for his dedication to the program.