Xavier University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1988
- Class:
- 1979
Sheila Connolly made a major impact on Xavier Athletics, both as an athlete and as an administrator: Director of O'Connor Sports Center and Director of Intramural Sports and Recreation (1984-87), Director of Intramural Sports (1981-1984), Athletic Board Student Member (1977-78), three-year letterwinner in women's volleyball, four-time Team MVP and letterwinner and senior captain in women's basketball, Student Intramural Director (1977-79), Assistant Women's Basketball Coach (1979-80), Member of Discipline Board (1982-86) and Alumni Class Representative.
Connolly was a four-time team MVP on the women's basketball team, helping her team to records of 13-2, 7-6, 6-7 and 14-9.
As a junior, Connolly pumped in 26 points in a 76-53 win over Wilmington College. As a senior, she connected for 28 points in an 88-52 win over Edgecliff College.
Connolly ended her career as the Musketeer all-time leading scorer (at the time) with 746 points.
The volleyball team enjoyed Connolly's talents for three years. The team finished 6-9 (1975), 5-11 (1976) and 9-7 (1977), while she had to sit out her senior year due to a knee injury.
Connolly was active in intramural athletics as well. She was the four-year quarterback for an undefeated flag football team while also playing co-rec softball, volleyball, tennis, racquetball, and water polo. She even spent two years as the Student Intramural Director.
Xavier hired Connolly in 1981 as the Director of Intramural Sports. She developed the program including design and layout of the Intramural Booklet. She planned and scheduled 12-15 sports each semester for the students, faculty, and staff.
Xavier promoted Connolly in 1984 to the position of Director of the O'Connor Sports Center and Intramural Sports and Recreation. The Sports Center and the Intramural Sports/Recreation Department enjoyed tremendous growth over the next three years.
Connolly put the office in order. She computerized the facility statistics, policies, and procedures. She initiated Corporate Memberships for the Sports Center. And she handled the marketing and promotion of the facilities and programs.
The students and general public, though, noticed the additional programs, events, and services becoming available to them. Community and student participation drastically increased during Connolly's tenure.
Connolly added various Community and Alumni Sports, Instructional Programs, and Summer Camps. In October, 1985, Cincinnati Magazine voted XU's Summer Day Camps the "Best Summer Camp" in Cincinnati.
The faculty/staff leagues began under Connolly. The league sports include basketball, volleyball, and softball. She started the popular Spring Breakaway (formerly Greek Week) for the students. She began a special Handicapped Basketball Tournament for mentally handicapped citizens in the Cincinnati area. She added many of the more popular sports in the Intramural Program.
CONNOLLY'S XAVIER CAREER BASKETBALL STATS
| Yrs. | G | FGM-FGA | % | FTM-FTA | % | RB/AVG | PTS/AVG |
| 75-76 | 15 | 135/10.5 | |||||
| 76-77 | 11 | 52-146 | .356 | 25-41 | .610 | 28/2.5 | 165/15.0 |
| 77-78 | 13 | 86- | 10-26 | .385 | 182/14.0 | ||
| 78-79 | 23 | 121-317 | .382 | 22-35 | .629 | 71/3.1 | 264/11.5 |
| Career | 62 | 746/12.0 |
