LORETTO, Pa. - Saint Francis University men's basketball head coach Rob Krimmel has announced the elevation of Luke McConnell to Associate Head Coach and Oliver Allen to Assistant Coach.

Taking a similar career path as Krimmel, who is entering his 29th campaign as a student-athlete, assistant coach, and head coach with Saint Francis, McConnell came to Saint Francis in the fall of 2008 and will begin his 16th-consecutive year with the Red Flash.

"Luke has been a valuable member of our staff for the past 12 years," said Krimmel. "He has been a big part of some of the most successful teams in Saint Francis Basketball history. His loyalty, dedication, and passion for Saint Francis basketball have helped make my job easier in each area where Luke has served our program. I am excited to see Luke grow in his new role as Associate Head Coach and know he will continue to positively impact our student-athletes, Saint Francis, and our community." 

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 under Krimmel through the 2020-21 season, he has been an assistant coach for the last three years.

"I couldn't be more excited for this incredible opportunity to be Associate Head Coach at Saint Francis," said McConnell. "Believe is an important word in our program, and I am so grateful for Coach Krimmel's belief in me for this position. I look forward to continuing to develop our student-athletes on and off the court and positively representing this program and Saint Francis University. We will work tirelessly to make our great alumni, fans & Flash family proud."

During McConnell's tenure at Saint Francis, the Red Flash achieved significant milestones, including winning the Northeast Conference (NEC) regular-season title and advancing to three NEC Championship Games. McConnell's coaching prowess is evident in his work with five 1,000-point scorers, three NEC Players of the Year, two 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, 15 All-NEC performers (nine first team; three-second team; three third team), six All-Rookie selections and seven NEC Tournament nods. His contribution was also recognized when Krimmel was named the NEC Coach of the Year in 2018-19.

A member of one of the Pittsburgh region's most respected basketball families, McConnell is the son of former Saint Francis men's basketball head coach Tom McConnell, who coached the Flash from 1992-99. His cousin T.J. plays in the NBA for the Indiana Pacers and was named a finalist for the 2024 Stokes-Twyman Teammate of the Year Award.

McConnell graduated from Saint Francis in 2012 with a degree in management and earned his MBA from the university in 2014.

Allen begins his third season on Krimmel's staff after serving the first two years as a graduate assistant for the men's basketball program. In his first two years in Loretto, the Red Flash advanced to the NEC Semifinals for the ninth time in program history in 2022-23 and coached a 1,000-point scorer,  an NEC Co-Player of the Year, a first-team selection, a second-team selection, and three NEC All-Rookie honorees.

"Ollie did a tremendous job in his two years as a graduate assistant," said Krimmel. "He has a great work ethic and is willing to do whatever is needed to help our student-athletes grow on and off the court. Ollie has a great understanding of the game and has been around very successful people and programs both here in the states and abroad.  I know he will continue to enhance our program as an assistant coach." 

Allen came to Saint Francis after serving as a team manager at Vermont for four seasons, including being elevated to head team manager for his last two years. The Catamounts won the America East title thrice in his four years and participated in the NCAA Tournament in 2021-22. 

"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to remain at Saint Francis for the 2024-25 season," said Allen. "I want to thank our Director of Athletics, James Downer, and Head Coach, Rob Krimmel, for believing in me and entrusting me with this opportunity. Saint Francis University is an amazing community, and I am honored to be a part of it."

Allen received his master's in education in May from Saint Francis after earning his undergraduate degree at Vermont in 2022.

With McConnell and Allen's elevations, Krimmel also announced the departures of Associate Head Coach Andrew Helton, Assistant Coach Eric Taylor, and Director of Basketball Operations Joe Causgrove.

"I am extremely thankful for all that Eric, Andy, and Joe contributed to our program during their time in Loretto," said Krimmel. "They were tremendous role models for our student-athletes and great ambassadors of Saint Francis University. Eric, Andy, and Joe were very influential in the success of our program both on and off the court. I know that each of them will impact their new places in the same way they impacted Saint Francis Basketball and Saint Francis University."

Helton coached for 13 seasons at Saint Francis during two stints in Loretto, including coaching both Krimmel and Taylor as student-athletes under Tom McConnell. Helton has accepted a high school coaching position at Christ Church Academy in Jacksonville, Florida. Taylor, a former standout player, a teammate of Krimmel, and a member of the Saint Francis Athletics Hall of Fame, has left coaching to pursue opportunities in the business world after 11 seasons as an assistant coach. Causgrove, a native of Erie, Pa., returns home to serve as an assistant coach at Mercyhurst University after three seasons in Loretto.