Devan McConnell was named UMass Lowell's first Director of Sports Performance in September of 2011. He was tasked with integrating a cutting edge sports performance program into the University's athletic department. At the time, UMass Lowell had never had a dedicated Performance Director or Sports Performance program. Under his direction, a comprehensive performance based model was introduced, focusing on movement quality, athletic development, and injury reduction strategies.
Before joining UMass Lowell, McConnell served as the Sports Performance Coordinator at Stanford University from 2008-2011. He worked closely with the women's basketball team, along with men's and women's volleyball, all of which were regulars in the NCAA Tournament. During his tenure, women’s basketball competed in three straight Final Fours, the women’s volleyball team competed in two Final Fours, and the men's volleyball program won the 2010 NCAA Championship.
While at Stanford, McConnell also served as the Performance Education Coordinator, instructing the Cardinals' personnel, building a staff library, and scheduling guest speakers. He continues his role as an educator, both as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Lowell and as an internationally recognized speaker on all topics about performance enhancement. Devan has also authored multiple articles on strength and conditioning for ice hockey.
