From 2017-21, Brittany Connell has served as the Cerritos College women's water polo goalkeepers coach. In those three seasons, Falcon keepers have recorded single-season saves that have landed their names in the top 10 in school history, while the team has posted a combined 47-35 record and three Southern California Regional Playoff appearances. In both 2017 and 2019, Falcon goalkeepers also earned All-South Coast Conference recognition. Head coach Sergio Macias will now need to find another keepers coach, as Connell has been hired to serve as a women's water polo assistant coach, as well as the Operations Assistant for the men's water polo team at Brown University.

"I can say that this is truly a dream job," stats Connell. "Moving up to the Division I ranks was always a goal of mine, to test my mettle as a coach, but also, more importantly, to grow as a coach. I am thankful for all of my coaching experiences at the high school and community college levels, as I feel that it has prepared me for this moment. I have learned so much from my colleagues and hope to make them proud. I have always been passionate about water polo and I believe that coaching is my lifetime career choice. Through coaching I am able to still interact with the sport I love, while also passing on knowledge to others and watching them grow into great student- athletes."

Connell, who played collegiately at Bucknell University, where she started and played on the first televised women's water polo game on ESPNU against Princeton University. During her career with the Bisons, Connell appeared in 50 games and recorded 202 saves with 47 steals. She received the Coach's Award in her sophomore season.

A product of Montebello High, Connell was named the CIF Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior (2008), while also being named Junior Olympics 1st Team All-American twice and received the John Hale Sportsmanship Award. She helped the team win the Almont League championship four years in a row, was a three-time all-league selection and earned All-Area honors two seasons in a row. Connell was selected to play in the San Gabriel Valley All-Star Game as a senior and was voted the San Diego County Cup MVP. Her team also voted her their Most Inspirational Player and Hardest Working Player during her time on both the water polo and swimming teams.

Prepared to continue on the Falcons staff when the teams returned to action, Connell was informed about the position by a former coach, who felt she would be a good fit for Brown University. After a pair of successful interviews, Connell was selected to work with the women's team as the recruiting coordinator, and will be assisting with practices and all games. For the men's team, she will serve as the operations manager and position coach, assisting with practices and home games.

Macias, who is training the team to return to action for the 2022 season, stated, "Brittany brought a positive attitude to the team and was able to work with our goalies on fundamental skills and drills. (It's) always tough to find an assistant coach to help with our goalies. She will be missed. Goalies received a lot of skill specific drills to their position which helped with improvement. It helped with self-confidence for our goalies that resulted with better game performance throughout the season."

Alongside her time at Cerritos, Connell acted as an assistant coach for the boys' and girls' programs at Pasadena High School in Pasadena, Calif., from 2018-21. She helped the girls' team earn a playoff berth in 2019-20 – the team's first postseason appearance since 2013. Prior to Cerritos and Pasadena, Connell coached at Hoover High School in Glendale, including serving as Hoover's head girls' water polo coach from 2016-18. Connell also acted as an assistant coach with the girls' program from 2012-16 and as an assistant with the boys' team from 2012-18.

"There are many great memories standing on the pool deck at Cerritos, but they all come down to a comment thread: community," added Connell. "Within the college, there is a great sense of community and camaraderie, not only among coaches, but also among the faculty and staff, as well. I always felt the support from the Cerritos College community, and getting to know people outside of the pool deck was a great experience. Cerritos also has a great community of student-athletes and parents who were also supportive."

Connell earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Bucknell University in English in 2012 with a minor in History, while she also completed her Master's Degree in English in 2018 from Azusa Pacific University.