John is SJU Class of ‘80. He attended the United States Air Force Academy Prep School and Air Force Academy. He transferred to St John’s University Spring Semester 1978. His Senior year, John attended classes at University of St. Thomas while coaching High School basketball and track at then Golden Valley High School. Following graduation, he joined General Mills where he spent 34+ years in Supply Chain Operations. John spent 24 years in Plant Operations at multiple locations around the U.S., and the last 10 years of his career at the Corporate Headquarters in Golden Valley, MN. He currently operates his own Executive/Leadership Coaching and Supply Chain Consulting business, Sixth Man Enterprises LLC. He and his wife Peg reside in Wayzata, MN.

Tom Connell is a 1984 graduate of Saint John’s where he played for Coach Jim Smith and was a captain of the 1983-84 team. Connell was a teacher for 35 years and a head high school basketball coach for 17 years. In 2021, he retired from teaching as the president of the teachers union in Edina Public Schools and now works as a business development consultant for an education company. He and his wife Julie have 2 grown sons, John and Jimmy and live in Saint Louis Park.