Fredericton, NB - Fred Connors has been a key figure in Tommies’ basketball for nearly three decades. A former Tommies' Men’s Basketball player, Connors was named head coach of STU’s Women's Basketball team in 2001. Fred, the father of Nikki, Emma, and Charlee, is part of something special at STU – all four are part of STU’s Women's Basketball program.  

"This is special," said Connors. "This is not something you'll see in most programs." 

Nikki, the team's student-trainer, will be graduating from the University of New Brunswick this year, while her twin, Emma, is a fourth-year senior with the Tommies.

Charlee, the youngest of the three, joined the Tommies this season. 

When recruiting Charlee, Fred wasn't as sure if he'd be able to land another Connors prospect, but he relished the possibility of having two of his daughters on his team.

"We all sat down and we're all kind of looking around at each other like 'we could actually pull this off,'" Fred recalled.  

For Charlee, joining the Tommies hadn't been a thought until Emma joined in 2019. "It clicked when Emma joined," Charlee said. "It was more motivation to start doing better and go to the gym outside of practices." 

Emma was the first Connors daughter to join the Tommies, making her Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association debut in 2019. Fred recalled knowing what type of player he was looking for in his 2019 recruitment class - someone who could defend, move the ball, and most importantly, someone who was passionate about basketball.

"I was never solely focused on basketball," Emma said. "Dad and I had a conversation and we talked about the possibility."  Emma then began to ready herself for ACAA basketball. 

Nikki had played basketball up to the seventh grade when she decided it might not be for her. Still, she knows the game quite well.

"Watching from the side is a lot of fun and being able to help has been really important to me," Nikki said.  "Obviously I care and want to help everyone," she said. "But when it's your own sister, you're sad that she's in pain and hurting.”

The experience has been a once in a lifetime opportunity for the four.

"It's been amazing as a dad, to have them all here all the time. Sometimes, they act like sisters here [at the gym] and I go home and wish we weren't doing this," Fred said with a smile.

"I hope they can pause for a moment and try to enjoy all of this," he said. "This has a shelf life - this will come to an end. So, I hope they're enjoying it the way I'm enjoying it." 

Read more about the Connors’ story here.