Following a coach who spent 25 years building a nationally recognized basketball program is generally considered a difficult assignment. Mickey McConnell used a different word for taking over at Saint Mary’s: easy.

Not because expectations are low. Because he knows exactly where he is and why he wants to be here.

“When you take over a job after a guy that’s been here for 25 years, it’s the dreaded...no one wants to do that,” McConnell said. “But for me, it was easy just because this is home.”

McConnell first arrived at Saint Mary’s as a player in 2007, met his wife, Meagan, at the college and returned in 2019 to join Randy Bennett’s staff. In between, he played eight professional seasons on eight teams, primarily in Europe. His son, Miles, was born in Spain; his daughter, Logan, was born in France.

His playing résumé is not exactly quiet. McConnell was the West Coast Conference Player of the Year as a senior. His late three-pointer against Villanova helped send the Gaels to their first Sweet 16 in 2010. The Los Angeles Dodgers also selected him in the 31st round of the 2011 MLB Draft.

Still, coaching was where he expected to land. McConnell was preparing to sign another three-year contract in France when a position opened on Bennett’s staff. He left professional basketball, returned to Moraga and spent the next seven seasons learning how the program operated from the inside.

For several years, he also knew that he would possibly succeed Bennett. Instead of chasing other jobs, he could stay, learn and consider how he might handle this one.

“I could start planning,” he said. “As far as how I wanted to run it and the things I value, I had a chance to get a head start.”

McConnell is not interested in changing successful parts of the program merely to prove that he is in charge. Saint Mary’s will continue to emphasize defense, rebounding, toughness and unselfish play. The offense, however, should move a little faster.

“Not in a crazy way,” he clarified. Some of the shift is based on personnel; some reflects his natural disposition. The larger challenge is keeping the identity of Saint Mary’s basketball while allowing his own personality to become visible.

One place he intends to be particularly deliberate is in the relationship between coaches and players. The transfer portal and name, image and likeness opportunities have made college basketball increasingly transactional. McConnell has told his staff to move in the opposite direction.

“Let’s make sure we have great relationships with our players,” he said. That includes knowing their families and what is happening away from basketball, before reduced minutes or a losing stretch tests the relationship.

This thinking has shaped the recruitment of 10 new players for this year’s 16-man roster. His staff listened for questions about the campus, team culture, playing style and reaching the NCAA Tournament - not only money.

“We tried to bring in guys who wanted to be here,” he said. “We were pretty diligent about bringing in guys who would fit our belief system.”

Nearly two weeks in Australia gave the group valuable time together and five games against professional and second-division teams. McConnell admitted that he needed the experience as much as his players did.

He also wants Moraga residents to see more of the program through open practices and other events. That local connection is becoming personal: McConnell and Meagan are moving from Pleasant Hill to Moraga with Miles, 9, and Logan, 7. Their children play a running list of sports that includes basketball, baseball, soccer, softball and tennis. McConnell attends as a parent and makes an effort not to become the coach hovering from the sideline.

Downtime is still a work in progress. His wife helps enforce a practical rule: “If I’m home, then I’m home.”

For years, McConnell could study the head-coaching job from a few seats away. This season, the decisions are his: what stays, what changes and how quickly 16 players become one team. He has been preparing for it. Now he gets to find out what works and Moragans have the pleasure of watching the new era unfold while remembering and appreciating where we've come from.