Montclair State University Athletics

Rich O'Connor spent over three decades as a member of the football staff coming to Montclair in 1983 and served the last 13 seasons as the Offensive Coordinator. In his tenure on Sprague Field, the Red Hawks qualified for 13 postseason appearances, including nine NCAA Playoffs berths.  Prior to taking over as offensive coordinator, O'Connor served as offensive backfield and special teams coach where he guided many talented tailbacks in his career. Equally as important to O'Connor were the MSU special teams units, which had been among the best in the NJAC year in and year out. During the Spring, O'Connor spent 18 seasons with the Montclair State baseball team as the team's hitting instructor/third base coach and later Associate Head Coach before moving back to the gridiron full time in 2003 with the addition of spring practice. Joining the baseball program in 1985, O'Connor's teams ranked among the best in Division III each season. Every team under his tutelage hit .316 or better which included a school-record .371 during his first season. It is a mark that still stands today. He was an integral part of all three NCAA Division III national championship teams (1987, 1993, 2000) and if you look at the all-time MSU Top 10 list for hitting, O'Connor coached nearly every named listed. In 1987, Montclair's first national championship season, MSU batted .351 and belted 72 home runs, including 22 by John Deutsch, who would go on to set the career record. Six years later, O'Connor's instruction was vital as the Red Hawks pounded out 111 doubles to lead the nation en route to a second NCAA title. Then came the 2000 season as O'Connor's hitters were among the best the program has ever season. Montclair finished ninth in Division III in hitting at .362 while leading the country in doubles (school-record 149), triples (34) and total bases (1,027).