Corey Begly was named head coach of the Connecticut College men's basketball program in July 2026.
Begly, who becomes the 10th head coach in the history of the program, is no stranger to Camel basketball. Prior to spending the past three years as head men’s basketball coach at Washington College in Chestertown, Md., he served as an assistant coach at Conn for four seasons under Tim Sweeney.
“I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to be named the men’s basketball head coach at Connecticut College,” said Begly at the time of his hire. “I’d like to thank Mo White, Kaylyn Smith, and the search committee for their belief in our shared vision for the program.
“Connecticut College is in many ways home for my family. We cannot wait to return to southeastern Connecticut and get to work. A special thank you to my wife Meghan, who is there forever and always, as well as my parents, siblings, and family. I’m grateful for the alumni who have reached out and believe in the Camel legacy that means so much to so many.”
Begly was quick to make an impact at Washington College, rejuvenating a program that won only three games in 2022-23. He exceeded that win total in his debut season and coached his first All-Centennial Conference player, and the following year saw the program double its win total. In 2025-26, the Shoremen opened the season with nine straight wins—the program’s best start since 1928—and won the Wild Goose Classic.
“I am thrilled to welcome Corey back to Connecticut College as head coach of the men’s basketball program,” said White. “He played a critical role in the rebuilding process here and is poised to build upon that foundation. His relentless approach to recruiting outstanding scholar-athletes—combined with his innate ability to cultivate dynamic, connected team cultures where student-athletes can thrive both on and off the court—positions him to lead the program to even greater heights.”
Begly returns to a Conn College program he helped build into a NESCAC contender. As lead assistant and recruiting coordinator from 2019-23, he played a pivotal role in recruiting and developing many of the student-athletes who have contributed to the Camels’ recent success. The four recruiting classes he helped secure included a pair of 1,000-point scorers, seven All-NESCAC selections and the program’s first All-American in 23 years.
That surge of talent paid dividends on the floor. In 2021-22, Conn posted its best conference showing since 2005, which culminated in its first home NESCAC playoff game in 20 years. The following year the Camels notched their first winning season since 2017 and highest win total since 2008. Conn’s 5-5 record in NESCAC play included a victory over No. 7 Middlebury, and the Camels qualified for the NESCAC Championship for the second straight season.
“Coach Begly believed in me before I fully believed in myself, and that confidence changed the course of my career,” said David Murray ’24, a two-time All-NESCAC selection and 2024 NESCAC Player of the Year. “He’s not just an outstanding basketball coach—he’s someone who inspires people to achieve more than they thought possible. I can’t think of a better person to lead Connecticut College men’s basketball into its next chapter.”
Begly came to Connecticut College from St. Lawrence University, where he spent two seasons as an assistant coach after lettering with the program from 2008-12. As an assistant for the Saints, he served as the program's recruiting coordinator and recruited Liberty League rookies of the year in both 2018-19 and 2019-20. His six-member recruiting class of 2022 also helped the team post an 11-win improvement in the 2018-19 season. St. Lawrence advanced to the semifinal round of the 2019 Liberty League Tournament, and Begly and his colleagues were collectively recognized as the 2019 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year.
Prior to rejoining St. Lawrence, Begly served as the head coach of the boys' varsity basketball team at Hyde School in Bath, Maine for four years. He accumulated a 58-20 ledger and piloted the program's transition from the smallest public school league in Maine to the NEPSAC (New England Preparatory School Athletic Council) Prep League. He earned 2016-17 NEPSAC Class C Co-Coach of the Year laurels after finishing the season with a 20-7 record, winning the league title, and advancing to the final four in his final year at the school.
Begly played four years of basketball at St. Lawrence and was a member of the 2008-09 Saints team that advanced to the "Sweet 16" round of the NCAA Tournament. He earned his bachelor's degree in history in 2012 as well as his master's in educational leadership in 2019 from St. Lawrence.
