MacConnell began his career in the National Basketball Association as Assistant Public Relations Director of the New Jersey Nets. From there, he became Director of Public Relations for the USFL’s New Jersey Generals before beginning his college athletics career as Director of Media Relations for the Atlantic 10 Conference. MacConnell returned to his alma mater, Rutgers University, as Director of Sports Media Relations and spent the next 26 years there in many different capacities including Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing and Communications, Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs and the last seven years as Deputy Director of Athletics.

MacConnell left Rutgers in 2012 to become Director of Football Operations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In that role, he handled many of the day to day activities for the NFL club and served as the liaison between football and non-football departments in addition to managing several elements of head coach Greg Schiano’s off-field agenda, including player and staff communications, football and stadium operations, scheduling and personal requests.