BROWNING — Browning native Daniel Connelly has been coaching in the school district for a combined 30 years, spending 22 years in high school and eight years with the middle school.
A lot of those years were spent as an assistant coach, but he spent his last six years running his own program as the Indians' head boys basketball coach. Connelly took over the program with hopes of keeping a competitive team who would contend for championships, and making developing his boys into proper young men.
“Compete for championships every year, be up there in the top of the conference, teach these kids life lessons, and make sure all of my kids graduate,” Connelly said of his goals.
His last class of players described him to be one of the best coaches that they’ve ever had, and not just on the court. They vouched that Connelly pushed them to be better men and brought out the full potential. When the news was released about his retirement, former players took it upon themselves to reach out and show their gratitude.
“It’s not always about winning, it’s about teaching them to become men. I had kids calling me saying the things I taught them will be used in life,” said Connelly. “When you hear things like that, it’s humbling and you know you are here for the right reasons.”
Part of his decision to retire was due to the fact that he felt he had done right by his athletes and his community. Now with his daughter going off to college, Connelly feels it is the perfect opportunity to spend more time with his family and have the availability to go visit her whenever he chooses.
