Conners joined St. Bonaventure after working the previous three years at Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) member Siena College. At Siena, Conners worked as an assistant coach assisting with the development of defensive and goalie units. Along with his game day and player development duties, he was also responsible for organizing team travel arrangements as well as the Saints' camps.

Prior to his time in Albany, Conners began his collegiate coaching career with a season at Brown University where he was a volunteer assistant coach. He worked with Brown's goalies and defensive players while also organizing the program's camps and assisted in recruiting for a staff that helped Brown to an Ivy League Championship and spot in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Under Conners' assistance, Bears' goalie Jack Kelly ranked 11th nationally in saves per game and the Brown defense ranked second in the nation in caused turnovers per game.

As a player, Conners was a goaltender for Quinnipiac from 2012-14 after transferring from Onondaga Community College. At Quinnipiac, he finished in the top five in NCAA Division I saves per game in both of his seasons with the program and also ranked seventh in the nation in save percentage as a senior. Named a team captain, he was also an All-NEC First Team selection and earned the distinction of being named his team's most valuable player. During his first two collegiate seasons, he helped lead Onondaga to the NJCAA National Championship in back-to-back years, earning First Team All-America honors both years. He earned a degree in communications from Quinnipiac.