Motivated by his own experiences growing up in New Brunswick, UNB alum and professional volleyball player Connor McConnell (BBA’21) is inspiring young athletes one sport clinic at a time, through his business Ethos Athletics.

With a lack of advanced sports camps being held across the province, McConnell and his business partner Nathan Brown are now filling this void for up-and-coming athletes.

“We’re really trying to inspire the next generation and our goal is to reach small communities that may not have the resources, coaching or opportunities available for youth to be exposed to high-level athletes,” says McConnell. “There is no one-stop-shop for sports camps across Canada.”

What first began in 2020 as week-long volleyball camps led by the two co-founders, has now grown into a team of coaches with hopes to expand into different sports. Ethos currently employs current and former university athletes and professional athletes, who serve as coaches of the company’s seasonal volleyball and basketball sports camps.

Targeted to middle-school aged youth, the clinics and camps are designed to help their athletes grow into better players and achieve new goals in their respective sport.

To date, the team has taken Ethos on the road to areas including Bathurst, Grand falls, Edmundston, Rexton and Fredericton. This summer, they were also busy using resources from UNB’s Fabrication Lab to create Ethos-branded merchandise for those participating in their camps over the last few months.

“I’m from Fredericton, so even before attending UNB I grew up watching the REDS volleyball team play. At that time, the players used to run camps, and I was always one of the first to sign up. I thought being coached by these guys was amazing and a unique experience. I want the next generation to experience this too.”

A former member of UNB REDs volleyball, McConnell now plays professionally and is entering his third pro season in Slovenia. When he’s not busy training and playing, he says working on the business helps him to stay connected to his community and teammates in Fredericton - like fellow alum, and now Ethos coach, Brad Stewart (BScEng’21).

Using the knowledge and skill he’s gained through years of athletic training, McConnell is combining his love for sport with his passion for educating and inspiring others. He says he is excited to see what the future holds for Ethos Athletics, with hopes to someday expand into Nova Scotia, PEI and Quebec, while continuing to give kids opportunities to play.