For the last four seasons, former Cerritos College women's water polo assistant coach Brittany Connell served as an assistant men's and women's water polo coach at Brown University. With Connell on the women's water polo staff, Brown had its best four-year run in program history including posting back-to-back 25+ win seasons in 2022 & 2023. Brown's 26 wins in 2023 marked a program record. The men's water polo team also posted a pair of 20+ win seasons with Connell on deck. It was just announced that Connell has been hired as the new women's water polo head coach at UC Merced. She will be looking to help the Bobcats improve on their 5-23 record in 2025, as they transition to Division II.

Prior to that, Connell served as the Cerritos College women's water polo goalkeepers coach from 2017-21. In those three seasons, Falcon keepers have recorded single-season saves that have landed their names in the top 10 in school history, while the team has posted a combined 47-35 record and three Southern California Regional Playoff appearances. In both 2017 and 2019, Falcon goalkeepers also earned All-South Coast Conference recognition.

"I want to thank the wonderful and supportive administration who have given me this opportunity to lead the women's team at UC Merced," said Connell to the UC Merced athletics website. "Water polo has been a key part of my life, and I'm excited to continue furthering the sport in the central valley. I am thrilled and look forward to working with these young women to create a legacy of empowerment and leadership through the sport."

Connell, who played collegiately at Bucknell University, where she started and played on the first televised women's water polo game on ESPNU against Princeton University. During her career with the Bisons, Connell appeared in 50 games and recorded 202 saves with 47 steals. She received the Coach's Award in her sophomore season.

A product of Montebello High, Connell was named the CIF Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior (2008), while also being named Junior Olympics 1st Team All-American twice and received the John Hale Sportsmanship Award. She helped the team win the Almont League championship four years in a row, was a three-time all-league selection and earned All-Area honors two seasons in a row. Connell was selected to play in the San Gabriel Valley All-Star Game as a senior and was voted the San Diego County Cup MVP. Her team also voted her their Most Inspirational Player and Hardest Working Player during her time on both the water polo and swimming teams.

Alongside her time at Cerritos, Connell acted as an assistant coach for the boys' and girls' programs at Pasadena High School from 2018-21. She helped the girls' team earn a playoff berth in 2019-20 – the team's first postseason appearance since 2013. Prior to Cerritos and Pasadena, Connell coached at Hoover High School in Glendale, including serving as Hoover's head girls' water polo coach from 2016-18. Connell also acted as an assistant coach with the girls' program from 2012-16 and as an assistant with the boys' team from 2012-18.