ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western head baseball coach Michael Keeran announced the addition of Christopher Monroe and Connery O'Donnell-Smith to his coaching staff.

Monroe spent time as a professional baseball player both in the Pioneer Baseball League and Atlantic League from 2022-2024, playing for the Great Falls Voyagers, the Idaho Falls Chukars and the Lexington Legends.

He also spent time as the hitting coach for Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois in 2023-24, helping that team to a Midwest Athletic Conference Co-Championship and a 42-15 record.

"Chris came to us from Parkland College - a very good program with a great tradition," said Keeran in a statement. "His experience not only as a coach, but as a player and his ability to relate to players makes him an extremely valuable addition to the staff."

Monroe earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Illinois-Springfield in 2021 before completing his Sports Administration Masters Program at Central Michigan in 2022.

He was a two-time first-team all-GLVC selection with UIS, and helped CMU to a conference title and an NCAA tournament bid in 2022.

O'Donnell was most recently an assistant baseball coach at Walters State Community College in Morristown, Tennessee since 2024, and he helped that team to a national runner-up finish at the JUCO World Series Championship this past June, as the Senators posted a 59-8-1 record.

"Connery came highly recommended and has been on staff with some of the best minds in college baseball," Keeran added. "He has been to two college world series and a national championship game. He's a winner and a relentless worker."

O'Donnell attended Southeast Missouri State, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Sport and Fitness Management in 2023 before getting his Master of Business Administration from SEMO in 2025.

O'Donnell played college baseball at Garden City Community College before transferring to SEMO in 2020.

Monroe started at Missouri Western on June 16. O'Donnell's first day was July 1.