After 29 years as a student-athlete, assistant coach, and men’s basketball head coach at Saint Francis University, Rob Krimmel plans to retire from coaching, Director of Athletics Jim Brazill announced. Brazill has announced the elevation of Luke McConnell as the men’s basketball head coach. McConnell is coming off his first season as the associate head coach for the Red Flash.
“Coach Krimmel’s legacy at Saint Francis University will forever be remembered for the profound impact he has had on our community,” said Fr. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D., Saint Francis President. “From student to coach to colleague, he has embodied the very best of what it means to be a Red Flash. His dedication, integrity, and passion have left an indelible mark on this institution—we could not have asked for a finer representative of Saint Francis. We wish him nothing but the very best in this next chapter, and he will always remain a cherished friend of Saint Francis University.”
Krimmel leaves Saint Francis after coaching 399 games as a head coach and being part of the men’s basketball program for close to 850 games dating back to his arrival as a student-athlete in the fall of 1996. He won 171 games as a head coach and led the Red Flash to its first Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament title and NCAA Tournament appearance in 34 years in 2024-25 after defeating CCSU 46-43 on March 11.
“Saint Francis will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Krimmel. “I am grateful for all of the people who have supported and impacted my journey as a student-athlete, a coach, a husband, a father, and a person. I will cherish the relationships that were built on and off the court as a result of my time in Loretto. Being the head coach of my alma mater was a tremendous honor. Thank you to all of the student-athletes, families, coaches, support staff, administrators, alumni, friends, and fans who devoted their time, energy, and passion into the program and BELIEVED in what we were doing. I could not have poured my heart into Saint Francis without the support of my wife, my kids, and my family. I am grateful for their unwavering support and willingness to make sacrifices so I could help develop the young men entrusted to my care.”
Along with leading the Red Flash to the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25, he helped Saint Francis to the NEC regular season title in 2018-19 and the NEC Championship Game four times (2016-17, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2024-25). The Frankies also participated in the national postseason for the CollegeInsiders.com Tournament (CIT) three times (2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18) and the National Invitation Tournament (2019-20). The team won a national postseason game for the first time since Maurice Stokes in 1954-55, thanks to a 78-76 win against Jacksonville on March 14, 2017, in the first round of the CIT.
“Coach Krimmel will forever be remembered for his Northeast Conference Championship and March Madness run this year,” said Brazill. “However, he will be most proud of his development of student-athletes when they arrive as freshmen and leave Loretto as young men. He has “Become that Someone” on campus for nearly three decades, and his impact on the lives that he has touched will be his legacy. The entire Red Flash community wishes all the best to Rob and his family.”
Under Krimmel’s tutelage as a head coach, three players were named NEC Player of the Year (Keith Braxton [2018-19], Isaiah Blackmon [2019-20], Josh Cohen [2022-23]), three were selected as NEC Rookie of the Year (Malik Harmon [2013-14], Braxton [2016-17], Juan Cranford, Jr. [2024-25], one NEC Defensive Player of the Year (Josh Nebo [2016-17]) and three NEC Most Improved Players (Earl Brown [2012-13], Andre Wofford [2017-18], Cohen [2021-22]). In addition, 10 times under Krimmel, a player earned All-NEC first-team honors; three times each, a player earned second or third-team honors, 10 NEC All-Rookie selections, and nine NEC All-Tournament honorees.
“As Saint Francis transitions into a new era, it is time for me to step away as the head men’s basketball coach,” said Krimmel. “Over the course of the last few months, I understand more than ever that God has a plan for me. I have surrendered to that fact and I know that He will guide me to utilize my talents in a way that is pleasing to Him.”
Krimmel was named the NEC Jim Phelan Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District 18 Coach of the Year for the 2018-19 campaign and received the NABC Guardians of the Game for Service Award on January 1, 2020.
Krimmel’s players have had success in the classroom with three players being named the NEC Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, six times a player received College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) All-District team honors, and 27 times a student-athlete was named to the NABC Honors Court in his 13 seasons as a head coach. In addition, Saint Francis has won the NEC Team Sportsmanship Award eight times.
Krimmel will leave Saint Francis as the second-winningest head coach in program history, only behind Saint Francis Hall of Fame head coach Dr. William “Skip” Hughes (292, 1945-66), and is one of only two head coaches in Saint Francis history to win 100 games at DeGol Arena, a feat he accomplished with an 86-78 win against Le Moyne on February 6, 2025.
He coached six players who reached 1,000 points, and 16 players have signed professional contracts.
Krimmel was a four-year member of the Saint Francis men’s basketball team as a player from 1996-00 and scored 645 points in a Red Flash uniform. He received CoSIDA Academic All-American honors in 1999 and 2000. He earned his undergraduate degree in secondary education/history in 2000 and his Masters degree in education and leadership in 2003.
McConnell Elevated to Head Coach
“I am excited and pleased to announce Luke McConnell as Saint Francis’ next men’s basketball head coach,” said Brazill. “I am confident Luke will continue develop our young men on and off the basketball court and he will be a great ambassador for Saint Francis University. His commitment and passion for the game, along with his love for the University, is a winning combination that will strengthen our basketball program and support our efforts to ensure student success in athletics and academics.”
McConnell becomes the 21st head coach in program history and the second with the last name McConnell after his father, Tom, served as head coach of the Red Flash from 1992-99 and ranks as the third-winningest head coach in team history with 85 wins.
“I am truly honored and humbled to be named the head coach at Saint Francis,” said McConnell. “I would not be here without Rob Krimmel and his belief in me. I am so grateful to have worked under one of the best coaches in the country. I want to thank President Fr. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R. Ph.D. D., Vice President for Student Development Dr. Frank Montecalvo, and Director of Athletics Jim Brazill for this tremendous opportunity. I look forward to leading our student-athletes and representing this university and our great community.”
McConnell also becomes the fourth Saint Francis graduate to serve as head coach at his alma mater, joining Dave Magarity (1978-83), Kevin Porter (1983-87), and Rob Krimmel (2013-25). He will also be one of 38 head coaches in the NCAA Division I coaching their alma mater in 2025-26.
During McConnell’s tenure at Saint Francis, the Red Flash achieved significant milestones, including defeating CCSU 46-43 on March 11 in the NEC Championship Game for the team’s first title and NCAA Tournament berth since 1991. McConnell’s coaching prowess is evident in his work with five 1,000-point scorers, three NEC Players of the Year, three NEC Rookies of the Year, two Most Improved Players of the Year, one NEC Defensive Player of the Year, three NEC Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athletes of the Year, 16 All-NEC performers (10 first team; three-second team; three third team), eight All-Rookie selections and nine All-NEC Tournament nods.
McConnell’s journey in Loretto began as a four-year letterwinner on the Saint Francis football team. He led the team in interceptions in 2010 and earned the National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award for Central Pennsylvania in 2012. His commitment to the university continued as he served as a two-year graduate assistant, starting as the athletic department graduate assistant in 2012. He then found a new home with the men’s basketball program in March 2013. After serving as the Director of Basketball Operations through the 2020-21 season, he was an assistant coach for three years before serving as the associate head coach for the 2024-25 campaign.
McConnell graduated from Saint Francis in 2012 with a degree in management and earned his MBA from the university in 2014.
A member of one of the Pittsburgh region’s most respected basketball families, Luke becomes the fourth McConnell to serve as a head coach at the Division I level. Along with his father, Tom, two of his aunts served as Division I head coaches in women’s basketball: Kathy McConnell-Miller (University of Tulsa, 1999-05); Susie McConnell-Serio (Duquesne, 2007-13, University of Pittsburgh, 2013-18). Kathy remains a head coach in the NCAA as the women’s basketball head coach at Division III’s Carnegie Mellon.
