After 24 seasons leading the Hornets, and four decades as a collegiate head coach, head coach Mike Connors announced his retirement after the 2026 season.
He was appointed the fourth rowing coach in Sacramento State history prior to the 2003 season, and had been the second longest tenured head coach on campus. In fact, he finished with 40 years of coaching experience (38 years as a head coach). In addition, Connors had been the second longest tenured head coach for any sport on the Sacramento State campus.
During his career, the Hornets established themselves as a respected program nationally while competing in multiple conferences and consistently challenging some of the sport’s top programs. Connors helped guide the program into NCAA-affiliated conference competition, first in Conference USA (2014), then the American Athletic Conference (2015-24) and eventually the West Coast Conference (2025-pres.).
During Connors’ tenure, the varsity eight posted a dual-meet record of 173-99, and the second varsity eight went 129-99 over that same time frame. Sacramento State rowers combined for 61 all-conference selections under Connors, including 35 that received first team accolades.
Of the Hornets’ eight appearances at the American Athletic Conference Championship (they did not compete in 2019 or 2020), the program posted top three finishes on four of those occasions.
During the program’s tenure in the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA), Connors guided the Hornets to five team titles. In fact, the second varsity eight medaled at the WIRA Championship 16 times, the varsity eight on 13 occasions, and the novice eight on nine occasions. The Hornets’ top three boats combined for 12 gold medals, 14 silvers, and 12 bronze medals over that span.
Academically, over the last 13 years, the Hornets have seen a combined 74 student-athletes receive the National Scholar-Athlete Award, an honor handed out by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association for academic excellence. That includes a school-record 10 Hornets receiving the honor in 2020, followed by nine more in 2021. This past season (2026), the team had seven honorees.
Other of the many highlights from Connors’ career include varsity eight winning the 2026 Cal Cup title at the San Diego Crew Classic for just the second time in program history. In addition, the varsity eight won the 2010 and 2004 Dad Vail Regattas, the second varsity eight posted its highest finish (2nd) at the 2010 Dad Vail, a varsity eight victory over Texas in 2009, a 2006 WIRA Coach of the Year award, and a 30-consecutive dual meet winning streak for the varsity eight that stretched from 2003 until 2007.
In 2025, the program’s first year in the West Coast Conference - he coached the team to a fourth place finish (out of nine schools) at the conference championship. In addition, the team won gold in the varsity eight, second varsity eight and varsity four grand finals at the same WIRA Championship for the first time in program history (1995-pres.).
In 2024, the Hornets placed third at the American Athletic Conference Championship - tied for the highest finish since joining the league in 2015. The Hornets also placed third in 2021, 2017 and 2015. In addition, the Hornets medaled in three events at the event, the program’s most medals in the four racing categories since 2015. That included a silver medal in the varsity four, and bronze medals in both the varsity eight and second varsity eight.
Some of Connors’ finest work may have come during the shortened 2021 season. Despite limited water time because of the pandemic, the Hornets managed to piece together one of the fastest squads in program history. In fact, the team was not able to train on the water until the middle of February (much later than most crews across the country) and raced just four times.
Still, the Hornets placed third at the American Athletic Conference Championship, which included medals from both the second varsity eight and varsity four entries. In addition, the Hornets’ second varsity eight picked up a win over 20th-ranked USC (the boat’s first victory over a ranked opponent in school history). The team’s varsity eight, which raced to sub 6:47 times in every race, beat Gonzaga for the first time since 2010.
Connors was instrumental in getting the program into each of the three conferences (WCC, American, Conference USA) as Sacramento State had not competed in an NCAA-recognized conference from its first year of intercollegiate status (1995) until making the jump to Conference USA. Prior to the 2014, Sacramento State had never been eligible to earn an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Championship.
In 2005, he oversaw a program that had its varsity eight, second varsity eight and novice eight boats each post undefeated dual-meet records (a 24-0 combined record) for the first time in school history. In 2004, just one season removed from taking over a program that had lost 13 letterwinners from the year before, he coached the varsity eight to the program’s first-ever gold medal at Dad Vail.
Prior to his arrival at Sacramento State, the Spokane, Wash., native spent four years (1998-02) as the head men’s rowing coach at UC Davis. During that time, Connors guided the Aggies’ varsity eight to a WIRA title in 2001 and a second-place finish at the same event in 2002. In addition, the Aggies’ top boat became the first UCD varsity eight crew to compete at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships in 2001.
He also guided UC Davis’ second varsity eight to a WIRA championship in 2001 and a silver medal at the WIRAs in 2002. During his tenure with the Aggies, a total of 11 student-athletes received all-WIRA honors. Connors coached the UCD men’s novice crew for two years (1996-98) and led the novice eight to a silver medal at both the 1997 and 1998 WIRA Championships before being promoted to head coach.
Prior to his time with UC Davis, Connors served as head coach of the Oakland Strokes Rowing Club (1994-95). The club has well over 100 members dedicated to junior/high school rowing, and was one of the biggest clubs in the United States.
The 40-year coaching veteran spent seven years as the head coach of the Santa Clara women’s rowing team (1986-92). Under his tutelage, the Broncos won the gold medal in the novice four at the 1987 national championships, becoming the first and only national championship boat for the Santa Clara women’s rowing program. He also coached the varsity four to a WIRA Championship in 1991.
Connors earned a bachelor of science degree in management from Santa Clara in 1983 and a master’s degree from his alma mater in finance in 1988. He spent four years rowing for Santa Clara (1979-83) and was elected to the school’s Hall of Fame as a member of the 1982 lightweight eight. That boat won the Western Sprints (now the Pacific Coast Rowing Championship) in 1981 and 1982, and is the last Santa Clara crew to compete at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. He was also a member of the varsity eight squad which won a bronze at the Western Sprints in 1981 and 1982.
Connors was named Most Valuable Oarsman during his junior and senior years and was named team co-captain in 1983.
