McConnell is currently serving as director of coaching at the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

[2] In 1995, he was appointed as the caretaker senior coach of Fitzroy when Bernie Quinlan was sacked during the season.

[7][4] After leaving Geelong, he became the head AFL coach for the Australian Institute of Sport.

[7] McConnell was appointed the senior coach of the Giants' AFL Women's side in July 2017.

[12][13][14] However, on 12 April 2022, McConnell reversed this decision and stepped down early from his role as senior coach GWS AFL Women's side effective immediately and was replaced by Cameron Bernasconi.