Head Coach Tom White '09, HOF '14
Email:
tom.white@colby-sawyer.edu
Phone: (603) 526-3607
Colby-Sawyer Hall of Famer
Tom White enters his fourth season as the second baseball head coach in school history in 2025.
White coached the Chargers to a program-tying 25 wins in 2024 with the first 20-win season since the year 2000. The Chargers ended the year 25-17 with a 10-6 GNAC record. In the first GNAC playoff berth in program history Colby-Sawyer ended the year as the runner-up in the number one seed pod play. Six Chargers would later be named to the GNAC All-Conference teams with three being named All-Region selections.
White graduated from Colby-Sawyer in 2009 and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 for his career on the baseball diamond as well as the soccer pitch. Before returning to New London as an assistant under Broughton, White was the head coach at Northern Vermont University-Lyndon for five seasons. He led the Hornets to three playoffs appearances and was named North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Coach of the Year in 2017.
During his playing career with the Chargers, White earned a number of different accolades. He was named Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Rookie of the Year, twice named All-CCC first team, and once named All-CCC second team. In Colby-Sawyer history, he ranks first in games played (141), first in at bats (464), first in doubles (39), second in hits (164), second in on base percentage (.450), second in runs scored (119), tied for second in stolen bases (40), and ranks third in runs batted in (133).
After graduating from Colby-Sawyer White pursued graduated studies completing his Masters of Education in Athletic Administration at Plymouth State University in 2010.
A native of Lisbon, N.H., White is married to the former Ellen Naughton '09, a women's basketball student-athlete for the Chargers from 2005-09.
Career Record
| Year |
Overall Record |
Conference Record |
Result |
| 2021 |
2-2 * |
0-0 (GNAC) |
|
| 2022 |
8-29 |
4-14 (GNAC) |
|
| 2023 |
8-25 |
4-13 (GNAC) |
|
| 2024 |
25-17 |
10-6 (GNAC) |
GNAC Pod Play Runner-Up |
| 2025 |
14-26 |
7-9 (GNAC) |
GNAC Pod Semifinals |
| Total |
57-99 |
25-42 (GNAC) |
|
| * 2021 Season Canceled After 4 games due to COVID-19 |
Associate Head Coach - Doug Avellino '18, HOF '25
Email:
doug.avellino@colby-sawyer.edu
A graduate of Colby-Sawyer class of 2018, Avellino was recently inducted into the CSC hall of fame in 2025. Avellino currently ranks 5th in program batting average and top 10 in on base percentage. Avellino attended Colby-Sawyer for three years from 2015-2018 and earned all conference first team all three years for the Chargers. Before attending Colby-Sawyer, Avellino was a four year starter for his high school team in Woodstock , VT and earned 123 career hits.
Avellino has held the position of Varsity Baseball Head coach for the Brimmer and May School (Chestnut Hill, MA) for the past 4 seasons and won the league title in 2025. He has continued his coaching work outside of baseball, coaching high school soccer and basketball for Weston High School (Weston, MA) and Wellesley High School (Wellesley, MA), while also serving as the Racquets Sports Director for Ipswich Country Club (Ipswich, MA).
A native of Woodstock, VT, Avellino will specialize in the development of the catchers, hitters and outfielders.
Graduate Assistant - Griffin Wheeler
Email:
griffin.wheeler@my.colby-sawyer.edu
A graduate of Colby-Sawyer class of 2025, Wheeler was the Chargers everyday shortstop and returns to the team in the 2026 season as a graduate assistant while pursuing his MBA at Colby-Sawyer.
Pitching Coach: Sam Matthews
Email:
ryan.connolly@colby-sawyer.edu
Sam Matthews is in his first season as the pitching coach for the Colby-Sawyer College baseball program. A teacher by trade, he specializes in pitching mechanics, arm care, and mental skills training, helping student-athletes build confidence, consistency, and a deeper understanding of how to compete on the mound. Matthews is certified in Rapsodo pitching technology and the Armored Heat arm care program.
Matthews was a four-year member of the Lyndon State College Hornets baseball program, where he was a mainstay on the pitching staff and consistently ranked among the top pitchers in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC). His leadership helped guide the Hornets to a conference playoff appearance during his senior season in 2014.
Following his playing career, Matthews transitioned directly into coaching, joining Head Coach Tom White’s staff as the pitching coach in 2015. Over the next 10 seasons, he played a key role in developing one of the NAC’s most reliable and competitive pitching staffs. His work with individual athletes produced multiple All-Conference performers, including James Mundy and 2019 NAC Pitcher of the Year Jake Jourdain.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, he served as a head coach for (Vermont Royal) in Fall Showcase League, widely regarded as New England’s premier fall baseball league.
A 2016 graduate of Lyndon State College with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, Matthews currently teaches elementary physical education in the St. Johnsbury School District in St. Johnsbury, Vermont where he continues to positively impact students through both education and sport.
Assistant Pitching Coach & Recruiting Coordinator: Ryan Connolly '08
Email:
ryan.connolly@colby-sawyer.edu
Ryan Connolly enters his sixth season on the Chargers coaching staff in 2026 with a primary focus on recruiting, player development and assisting with the pitching staff. Connolly has a heavy emphasis on player development and building relationships and skills that go beyond the field. Connolly recently got his certification for Rapsodo baseball pitching.
While at Colby-Sawyer Connolly has led the pitching staff to set two program records in strikeouts in 2022 (205) and 2024 (253), while also dropping the opposing batting average 47 points from 2023 to 2024.
He has held previous coaching positions at All-Star Baseball Academy, a player development organization in the Mid-Atlantic, as well as inter scholastically where he was the pitching coach and instructor for players 7-18 years of age.
Connolly graduated from Colby-Sawyer in 2008 with a degree in sport management. His playing career started at the University of Tampa, before transferring to CSC and appearing in 32 games with the Chargers seeing time both at first base and on the mound.
Ryan is a native of Littleton, N.H. and is married to his wife Brianne, and has one daughter Leona
Assistant Coach: Ryan Gill
Assistant Coach Ryan Gill enters his seventh season at Colby-Sawyer in 2026 after joining in 2019 under Jim Broughton to be the coach of the catchers. Since joining Gill is now also the first base coach for the team while continuing to work with the catchers behind the plate.
Prior to joining the Chargers, Gill was an assistant at Proctor Academy in 2018 where he was in charge of the catchers, assistant hitting and infielders coach. Before Proctor, Gill was the catchers coach and assistant hitting coach for his alma mater Curry College in 2016, where he was in charge of defensive alignment and pitch selection. From 2012-2016 Gill assisted at Newbury College where he was the offensive first base coach as well as in charge of the backstop. Gill was in charge of scouting and recruiting and helped Newbury to their first playoff and championship appearance.
Gill started his playing career at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell where he saw action in 10 regular season games and part of the team that won the Northeast-10 Championship. After his first year he transferred to Curry College where he would win the catching job in his sophomore season. He was later named a captain his junior season. In his senior season he would be sidelined with an injury, but stayed close to help as the Colonels would win the CCC championship and go on to regionals.
Gill currently works as at Dartmouth College in the Environmental Health and Safety Department, while also working in the Sunapee Fire Department and Northwestern New Hampshire Hazardous Material Response Team.
He is married to wife Kristine and has two daughters Aelin and Niamh.
