Hired in July of 1996, Connoyer was a four-year starter at Notre Dame, primarily playing shortstop and second base. She was co-captain of the Fighting Irish as a senior and the team[apos]s Most Valuable Player her junior season. A standout player, Connoyer was named to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference first team all four years.
In addition to her duties at Purdue, Connoyer is involved in various camps and clinics as well as speaking engagements on numerous softball topics.
Academically, she graduated with a bachelor[apos]s degree in government and international studies in 1994. She then obtained her master of arts in teaching in 1996 through the University of Portland, Notre Dame and the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), a two-year teaching service project.
She was named to Notre Dame[apos]s Dean[apos]s List, won an Americorps National Service Grant and the C. Albert Koob Award, a national catholic educational award to ACE. In addition, Connoyer was a recipient of Notre Dame[apos]s Award of the Year 1996 for service and leadership in education.
Prior to coming to Purdue, Connoyer was the head varsity volleyball coach and assistant varsity basketball and softball coach at Loyola College Preparatory in Shreveport, La. She also was a world history, honors civics and cultural geography instructor.
A native of Bethalto, Ill., Connoyer helped lead Loyola to the Louisiana state softball championship in 1996.