O'Melia, Connelly Join 'Roo Football Staff

SHERMAN, Texas - Austin College has hired Chad O'Melia and Bob Connelly to complete its coaching staff, head coach Tony Joe White has announced. O'Melia will serve as the team's offensive coordinator, while Connelly will coach the offensive line.

O'Melia most recently served as the head coach at St. John Paul II Catholic High School in Huntsville, Ala., as well as serving as an assistant coach, recruiting coordinator, and social media coordinator for Birmingham-Southern College. While working at BSC, O'Melia worked with the running backs, wide receivers, and special teams. He was also a three-year starter on the offensive line for Birmingham-Southern under White.

"Coach O'Melia has played and coached in this offense for many years now," said White. "It will be a tremendous asset to our program to have his thorough knowledge of our schemes and expectations."

While working at BSC, O'Melia helped the team achieve a national Top 25 ranking, coaching multiple All-Southern Athletic Association running backs and wide receivers, as well as All-American running back Robert Shufford, who was a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, given annually to the top player in all of Division III. 

Connelly most recently served as the offensive line coach for Northern Arizona University, and prior to that coached at Mesquite High School. He also has experience as an offensive line coach and run game coordinator at the likes of the University of Southern California, Oklahoma State University, Arizona State University, the University of Texas-El Paso, UCLA, the University of Alabama, Washington State University, and San Jose State University, among others. 

"Bob has a proven track record of excellence when it comes to coaching the offensive line," said White. "His experience and expertise coaching our guys up front will be invaluable. I am thrilled to have Bob and his family join our staff."

Connelly played collegiately at East Texas State University, which has now become Texas A&M Commerce, and was an NCAA Division II All-American. He later served as a graduate assistant for Texas A&M Commerce, as well as Texas A&M.