Alumni Spotlight: Joelle Connelly

A two-year member of the Temple Women's Basketball team, Joelle Connelly was a key contributor on Owl squads that won 47 games and advanced to consecutive postseason tournaments.

A native of Arcade, N.Y., Connelly played her first two seasons at Hofstra University where she was a two-year starter and Colonial Athletic Association Rookie of the Year selection before deciding to transfer to Temple for the second semester of her sophomore season (2009-10). The 6-3 center made an immediate impact when eligible in December 2010, playing in 20 games off the bench and averaging 1.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks over 20 games in helping lead the Owls to a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

As a senior in 2011-12, Connelly was a fixture in the paint, playing in 27 games and making 24 starts. Her scoring (3.7 ppg) and rebounding (3.7 rpg) numbers increased, and her presence helped Temple post a 23-win season and advance to the Sweet 16 of the WNIT Tournament.

Connelly, who is working in the Philadelphia area, is now back at Temple finishing up work on her bachelor's degree through the NCAA's Degree Completion Program.

She resides in Mount Airy, Pa. with her son, Jaxton (10), and daughter, Leila (7).

1) Talk your time as a student-athlete at Temple following your decision to transfer from Hofstra during your sophomore season?
"When I was considering transferring from Hofstra it was between Temple and St. John's. I just really enjoyed my (future) teammates and that was the deciding factor in choosing Temple. So, I had first to redshirt, as back then they did not have the portal as they do now, and I had to sit one year.

Since I transferred halfway through my sophomore season, I received permission to play halfway through my junior year. The team was already through the first part of the season (2010-11), but I was able to play the second half of that year. The next year, my senior year, and I was a starter."

2) What have you been doing since your playing career ended?
"I worked at Ardmore Toyota for a few years in the service department before taking a position in the business department at Comcast. I was at Comcast for six years until this past June. Now I am a plant administrator for PQ Incorporated which makes liquid glass. We bring in sand and soda ash and heat it up to make silicate which is many different products. I have been with the company for about three weeks and really enjoy it as I am in an office setting.

The majority of my time, however had revolved around my children. My son, Jaxton, plays AAU ball year round and wears my old Temple number, #14, which makes me proud. So, we travel a lot which keeps us busy."

3) How has challenging has life been as a single parent?
"I am raising my kids on my own, but they do go to their father's every other weekend as he lives in Philadelphia. My family is in Buffalo, and they visit regularly.
We also go up there as well. If I did not have my kids and how busy they keep me, I would be super bored.

Now that I am back in school, my kids and I do homework at the same time which is normally every day around 3:30. It is really nice, and my kids have supported me throughout my decision to go back to school. They ask how I am doing at school. It is nice to know that they have my back and are proud of me, as I am of them, when we get good grades. It is exciting."

4) How did going back to Temple to finish your degree all come to fruition?
"Justin Miller (Sr. Associate AD/Chief of Staff) reached out to let me know of this amazing opportunity that would allow me to come back and earn my degree through the NCAA Degree Completion program. I was lucky that this program was in place that allowed me to come back and finish up school as it made it possible for me as a single mom raising kids.

I never thought I would be able to finish my degree because of my situation. My parents were so happy as they never thought I would be able to go back to school. What has been really exciting is showing my kids that you can always finish something you started through hard work."

5) What is next after you earn your degree?
"I am on track to earn my degree by the end of next year. My degree will be in general arts studies. Being enrolled at Temple helped me obtain my position at my new company as the position required a bachelor's degree. The company knows I am enrolled and finishing up so that helped me get my job. Human Resources knows I am earning my degree so once I obtain it there are other higher-level positions which will allow me to move up within my company. It feels good to know that there is upward mobility here.

I never thought I would be coming back to finish my degree so now that I am doing it is like am on Cloud 9. I know my parents are thankful for that and grateful for the opportunity Temple and the NCAA has afford me as that was always their goal as parents."

Temple University Athletics

Alumni Spotlight: Joelle Connelly

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