Connor Lewis Named Head Baseball Coach at UConn-Avery Point
 
GROTON, Conn. – After an extensive search Connor Lewis has been named the next head coach for the University of Connecticut at Avery Point baseball program. Lewis replaces Ian Ratchford who had coached the Pointers for the last four seasons and was recently named the head coach at Albertus Magnus College.

Lewis came from Mitchell College where he was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for the Mariners last season.  His hire is Travis Beausoleil's first as the newly appointed athletic director at Avery Point. "I could not think of a better coach and person to take the reigns of the baseball program here at UConn Avery Point,"  said Beausoleil. "In my 12 years at Mitchell, Coach Lewis was the hardest working assistant I ever had and I know his experience as a Division 1 athlete, coupled with his experience in my Mitchell program is going to serve him greatly as he continues the rich tradition of success that Avery Point baseball is synonymous with."

Lewis, a standout pitcher at Waterford high school, helped lead the 2013 team to a state championship appearance, and was named captain to both the baseball and basketball teams his senior year. Lewis was named the 2015 CIAC Scholar Athlete of the Year and was named to the CT senior All-Star game along with Zone 6 Pitcher of the Year that summer for Waterford Legion. Lewis continued his career at division 1 University of Hartford where he was named to the America East All-Academic team in 2017 and named team captain in 2019. Lewis also spent summers playing for the Torrington Titans of the Futures Collegiate League and the Mystic Schooners of the NECBL.

During his tenure as pitching coach at Mitchell, Lewis oversaw a staff that ranked top 20 nationally in several key statistics including: 19^th in ERA (3.89), 14^th in WHIP (1.30), T-9^th in Shutouts (6), 4^th in Strikeout-Walk Ratio (3.11), and 3^rd in Walks/9 inn. (2.36).  Lewis's staff also saw ace Ryan Solimine selected to the D3baseball.com and ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Team as well as the NECC All-Conference Team.

"I would like to thank Athletic Director Travis Beausoleil and the rest of the administration for the opportunity, and entrusting me to lead the baseball program at Avery Point.  It is a tremendous honor to continue the tradition of success established by Coach Bidwell," said Lewis.  "Avery Point has a storied history of winning and helping student-athletes achieve their goals on and off the field.  I look forward to continuing this tradition and competing to get back to the World Series." 

"The Avery Point program has always been a great option for players to advance to the professional level, whether it be playing or coaching, including MLB players John McDonald, Pete Walker, and Rajai Davis as well as coaches such as Ryan Fuller and Roberto Mercado.  I am grateful for all the incredible coaches I have learned from along the way and am extremely excited to get to work." 

Lewis graduated from the University of Hartford with a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) and a minor in Actuarial Science.