HONOLULU – Hawai'i baseball head coach Rich Hill announced the promotion of former Rainbow Warrior standout Connor Harrison to pitching coach Monday. A pivotal figure in Hawai'i's recent pitching success, Harrison takes the helm after helping guide the program's elite pitching staff as the director of pitching development during the 2026 season.
 
Harrison has been an integral part of UH pitching staffs that have consistently dominated the collegiate baseball landscape, having been involved in units that finished in the top three nationally in team ERA in both 2024 and 2026. As a senior pitcher in 2024, he helped anchor a staff that led the nation with a 3.79 ERA. This past season, he returned to the program as the director of pitching development, where his mentorship and expertise helped the 'Bows finish third nationally with a phenomenal 3.44 team ERA.
 
"Connor is one of the brightest young pitching minds on the West Coast," said Hill. "His new-school approach with mechanics, analytics, and strength and conditioning separated him from the other candidates. Being a key part of our success as assistant pitching coach in 2026 in addition to being an alum of the program make him the perfect fit to take our staff to new heights."
 
In his player development role in 2026, Harrison worked closely with an incredibly successful pitching unit. He helped guide a rotation that featured All-American and three-time Big West Pitcher of the Week Isaiah Magdaleno, along with All-Big West selections Hekili Robello and Tsubasa Tomii. The elite pitching staff also finished among the best in the country in WHIP (4th), shutouts (3rd) and hits allowed per nine innings (5th).
 
"I'm extremely honored that Coach Hill trusts me with the pitchers," said Harrison. "If you look at his coaching tree and how impressive his assistants have gone on to be, I'm appreciative that I get to be the next one. I'm grateful to have been able to play and coach under two great pitching coaches here at UH in Mathew Troupe and Keith Zuniga, and now I'm going to take what I've learned from them and continue our successes on the mound.
 
"I've pitched in front of these amazing fans here in Mānoa plenty of times and now I'm excited to share my experiences with our pitchers to help them grow and have success. This place is special and I can't wait to get to work!"
 
Before joining the coaching staff, Harrison was a cornerstone of the Hawai'i bullpen as a player from 2021 to 2024. He completed his collegiate career as the program's all-time leader in relief appearances with 70, while ranking second in UH history with 76 total career appearances—just three shy of the all-time record set by Ross Hayashi. Across his four years in Mānoa, Harrison compiled a 3.68 ERA and 10 saves, striking out 108 batters while issuing just 37 walks over 135.1 innings of work.
 
His best stretches on the mound came during his upperclassman years, leading the team with 25 appearances in both 2023 and 2024. As a senior in 2024, he posted a stellar 3.02 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP, striking out 35 batters to just two walks in 41.2 innings while holding opponents to a .242 batting average. The season prior, Harrison paced the team with seven saves while turning in a 2.70 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 53.1 innings.
 
Following his graduation from Hawai'i in 2024, Harrison spent two seasons pitching professionally for the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League before deciding to return to his alma mater in a coaching capacity.
 
What They're Saying About Connor Harrison
 
Keith Zuniga
USC Pitching Coach, Former Hawai'i Pitching Coach
 
"Coach Hill absolutely nailed this hire! I'm sure the national attention that this opening received was compelling but the RIGHT GUY was in the room the entire time. Connor was an integral part of what we were able to accomplish at UH over the past three seasons. He will be a superstar in this game and the world is about to find out. I couldn't be more pumped for the boys and the 'Bows."
 
Troy Percival
MLB All-Star Pitcher, Former UC Riverside Head Coach
 
"Congratulations to Connor. He will be a great asset to the program. The pitchers will thrive under his instruction. He has great communication skills and knowledge of the game to teach and share. I'm sure his dedication to coaching will match his dedication as a player."
 
Mathew Troupe
Vanguard Pitching Coach, Former Hawai'i Pitching Coach
 
"Connor is one of the most relentless competitors I have ever met, and he has the knack of using his contagious energy to elevate everyone around him. This energy fuels constant improvement, and his pitchers will grow, enjoy the work, and learn to attack development with intent. He is a slam dunk fit and will continue to impact the 'Bow Warriors in a tremendous way."