Casey O’Connor, who served as an assistant to Bob Bellizzi for seven years, was named Bellizzi’s successor on June 1, 2006 after coach Bellizzi passed away following a 28-year career at the helm of the Golden Knights.
O’Connor is thus only the second head coach for an entity that has traditionally been among the nation’s top NCAA II programs. Saint Rose has made four NCAA Tournament appearances (1994, 1995, 1997, and 2000), made a run to the 2000 NCAA Division II World Series, won three NAIA Area 8 Championships and advanced to the 1990 NAIA World Series. The Golden Knights have had only eight losing campaigns throughout 26 seasons of varsity competition.
Now in his fifth year, O’Connor steadfastly worked his way through the coaching ranks of the Saint Rose program. He served as an assistant coach for the varsity team throughout the previous three seasons prior to his ascension to the head coaching position. O’Connor also spent three years as the head coach of the College’s junior varsity program after working as an assistant with the JV club during the spring of 2000.
Furthermore, O’Connor served as head coach of the Albany Senators of the Albany Twilight League from 2003-2006 and had a head coaching stint with the North Colonie Padres Connie Mack team in 2000.
A former catcher and first baseman for the Golden Knights, O’Connor batted better than .300 in each of his last two seasons at Saint Rose. He hit .331 with 29 RBI and 25 runs scored as a senior in 1999 after batting .305 with eight home runs and 28 RBI throughout his junior campaign in 1998.
