Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Pedro Salcas
T.J. McConnell comes from a basketball family whose influence extends far beyond his career with the Indiana Pacers. Born Timothy John McConnell II on March 25, 1992, in the Pittsburgh area, McConnell is the oldest of three children born to Tim and Shelly McConnell. His younger brother, Matty, played Division I basketball at Robert Morris, while his younger sister, Megan, followed the family tradition all the way to the WNBA.
McConnell has also created a family of his own. He is married to his longtime sweetheart, Valerie Guiliani, and the couple has two sons, Trace and Mack. Valerie knew McConnell long before he became an NBA player, and their relationship has remained one of the constants throughout his journey from Chartiers Valley High School to Duquesne, Arizona and professional basketball.
Basketball is woven throughout the McConnell family tree. T.J.’s father became one of the most successful high school coaches in Western Pennsylvania history, while several of his aunts and uncles also played or coached at elite levels. Here is everything publicly known about T.J. McConnell’s wife, children, parents and siblings.
Who Is T.J. McConnell’s Wife?
T.J. McConnell’s wife is Valerie Guiliani McConnell. Valerie has been part of his life since long before the Indiana Pacers guard became a professional basketball player.
The two grew up in the same Western Pennsylvania community and were high school sweethearts. Contemporary reporting from 2017 identified Valerie as McConnell’s longtime girlfriend and high school sweetheart while the couple was preparing for their wedding.
Their relationship therefore predates McConnell’s college basketball career, his move across the country to play at Arizona and his eventual emergence as an NBA player.
Valerie has generally preferred to keep a low public profile despite her husband’s growing popularity. She is occasionally seen supporting McConnell at Pacers games and major basketball events, but much of her personal and professional life remains private.
When Did T.J. McConnell and Valerie Guiliani Get Married?
T.J. McConnell and Valerie Guiliani married in September 2017 in the Pittsburgh area.
McConnell was playing for the Philadelphia 76ers at the time. Earlier that year, he had spoken publicly about returning home to Pennsylvania to make preparations for the wedding.
The ceremony took place close to where their relationship had begun, allowing the couple to celebrate with relatives, childhood friends and people who had known them before professional basketball became part of their lives.
Several basketball connections were also associated with the wedding, including people McConnell had met during his college and NBA career.
As of now, Valerie remains publicly identified as McConnell’s wife by the Indiana Pacers and recent sports coverage.
How Many Children Does T.J. McConnell Have?
T.J. McConnell and his wife Valerie have two sons, Trace and Mack McConnell.
The Indiana Pacers’ official media guide confirms that McConnell is the father of two boys. Pittsburgh reporting has additionally identified the children by name as Trace and Mack.
Fatherhood has become an increasingly important part of McConnell’s life as his NBA career has continued. He has occasionally brought his children onto the court and has spoken about the perspective that having a family has given him.
McConnell also carries his family with him symbolically whenever he plays. He has tattoos honoring Valerie and his children, and touching those tattoos forms part of the routine he performs when entering an NBA game.
Trace McConnell
Trace McConnell is T.J. and Valerie McConnell’s older son.
Trace was born in January 2021, several years after his parents married and during T.J.’s time with the Indiana Pacers.
Pacers fans have occasionally seen Trace around his father’s basketball environment. The team has shared moments of McConnell spending time with his son on the court before games, offering fans a glimpse of T.J.’s life as a father away from the competitive side of the NBA.
McConnell has also spoken about how becoming a parent changed his perspective. His children have become another source of motivation during a professional career built largely around determination, effort and persistence.
Mack McConnell
Mack McConnell is T.J. and Valerie’s younger son.
Mack was born in 2023. The McConnells have generally kept their younger son’s life away from public attention, so relatively few personal details about him have been reported.
One of the strongest public confirmations of his name came from a 2024 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette profile of McConnell. The article revealed that T.J. has the names Trace and Mack tattooed underneath his right bicep.
The gesture is part of a larger group of tattoos honoring the people closest to McConnell, including his wife and siblings.
Who Are T.J. McConnell’s Parents?
T.J. McConnell’s parents are Tim McConnell and Shelly McConnell.
They raised T.J., Matty and Megan in Western Pennsylvania, where basketball became central to family life.
Tim’s coaching career made him a prominent figure in the region’s high school basketball community, while Shelly provided support behind the scenes as all three children pursued demanding athletic careers.
The family’s home became closely connected with basketball, and each of the three McConnell children eventually played the sport at a high level.
T.J. McConnell’s Father: Tim McConnell
Tim McConnell is T.J. McConnell’s father and one of the most successful basketball coaches in Western Pennsylvania high school history.
Tim also played college basketball himself, competing at Waynesburg College during the 1980s before beginning a lengthy coaching career.
He became particularly associated with Chartiers Valley High School, where he coached the boys’ basketball program for 25 seasons.
One of the players he coached was his oldest son, T.J.
That father-son relationship became one of the defining elements of T.J.’s early basketball career. Tim knew his son’s strengths and weaknesses better than almost anyone and pushed him to develop the competitiveness, decision-making and toughness that would later become trademarks of his NBA game.
T.J. was an extraordinary scorer in high school. As a senior at Chartiers Valley, he averaged 34.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game while helping the Colts reach Pennsylvania’s Class 3A state championship game.
Tim understood, however, that his son would need to evolve into more of a traditional point guard to succeed at the college level.
That development eventually helped McConnell earn opportunities at Duquesne and Arizona before reaching the NBA as an undrafted player.
Tim McConnell’s Coaching Career
Tim McConnell built an extraordinary coaching résumé in Pennsylvania.
After decades coaching the Chartiers Valley boys, he moved to the school’s girls’ program and eventually coached his daughter Megan.
His teams collected numerous WPIAL championships, and his girls’ program also won a Pennsylvania state championship.
Tim eventually finished his coaching career with more than 600 victories before stepping away from the profession.
Retirement gave him more freedom to follow the professional and college careers of his children.
That became especially meaningful in 2025, when T.J. helped Indiana reach the NBA Finals while Megan earned her first WNBA opportunity with the Phoenix Mercury.
During Indiana’s Finals run, Tim openly spoke about how meaningful it was to have one child competing in the NBA and another reaching the WNBA.
T.J. McConnell’s Mother: Shelly McConnell
Shelly McConnell is T.J. McConnell’s mother.
Although Tim’s long coaching career has naturally attracted much of the public attention surrounding the family, Shelly has also played an important role in raising T.J., Matty and Megan.
She has regularly supported her children’s basketball careers and has been seen attending important games and family celebrations.
Megan has publicly emphasized her mother’s influence, explaining that Shelly does not always receive the attention that Tim receives because of basketball but has had a major role in shaping her children away from the court.
Shelly has remained relatively private compared with her husband, but established Pittsburgh reporting has identified her as the mother of all three McConnell siblings.
She was also part of the family’s emotional 2025 postseason experience as T.J. competed in the NBA Finals and Megan reached the WNBA.
Who Are T.J. McConnell’s Siblings?
T.J. McConnell has two younger siblings: brother Matty McConnell and sister Megan McConnell.
All three children pursued competitive basketball, making Tim and Shelly McConnell the parents of an unusually accomplished group of athletes.
T.J. is the oldest of the three.
Matty McConnell
Matthew “Matty” McConnell is T.J. McConnell’s younger brother.
Like T.J., Matty attended Chartiers Valley High School and played basketball under their father, Tim.
He developed into an outstanding high school scorer in his own right. T.J. and Matty became the first two players in Chartiers Valley basketball history to surpass 2,000 career points.
Matty subsequently continued his basketball career at Robert Morris University.
He became a four-year contributor for the Colonials and developed a reputation as a productive two-way guard.
During his junior season in 2017-18, Matty started all 32 games he played, averaging 10.8 points while contributing 80 assists and 64 steals.
His defensive instincts were particularly notable, something he shared with his older brother.
Matty completed his college career at Robert Morris rather than following T.J. into the NBA, but his achievements added another Division I basketball player to the McConnell family.
Megan McConnell
Megan McConnell is T.J. McConnell’s younger sister and the youngest of Tim and Shelly McConnell’s three children.
Like both of her brothers, Megan became an accomplished basketball player.
She starred at Chartiers Valley High School while playing for her father. Tim’s girls’ team became one of Pennsylvania’s dominant programs, including a long winning streak and a state championship during Megan’s high school career.
Megan then attended Duquesne University, the same school where T.J. began his college basketball career.
She developed into one of the best players in Duquesne women’s basketball history.
Megan became a multiple-time All-Atlantic 10 selection and finished her college career among the program’s leaders in several statistical categories.
Despite her accomplishments, she was not selected in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
That created a career path with an interesting similarity to T.J.’s own story. T.J. went undrafted in the 2015 NBA Draft before earning his way into the league, and Megan also had to pursue a professional opportunity without hearing her name called on draft night.
The Phoenix Mercury invited Megan to training camp in 2025. Although she was initially waived, Phoenix later brought her back, and she officially made her WNBA debut in June 2025.
Her achievement made T.J. and Megan part of a select group of siblings who have appeared in the NBA and WNBA.
During that period, the brother and sister publicly supported one another by wearing each other’s professional jerseys.
T.J. McConnell’s Family Is Full of Basketball Players and Coaches
T.J. McConnell’s basketball roots extend well beyond his parents and siblings.
His extended family contains several accomplished players and coaches, making the McConnells one of Western Pennsylvania’s most recognizable basketball families.
Suzie McConnell-Serio
Suzie McConnell-Serio, T.J.’s aunt and Tim’s sister, is one of the most successful basketball figures in the family.
She became an All-American point guard at Penn State and represented the United States in international competition.
McConnell-Serio won an Olympic gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Games and later earned a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics.
She also played professionally in the WNBA, earned All-WNBA honors and later became a coach.
Her accomplishments eventually earned her induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
When Megan reached the Phoenix Mercury in 2025, she became another female member of the McConnell family to play in the WNBA.
Kathy McConnell-Miller
Another of T.J.’s aunts, Kathy McConnell-Miller, also built a career in basketball.
She played college basketball at Virginia and later became a Division I women’s basketball coach, holding head-coaching positions at Tulsa and Colorado.
Her career further demonstrates how deeply basketball runs through both generations of the McConnell family.
Tom McConnell
T.J.’s uncle Tom McConnell has also worked extensively as a basketball coach.
His coaching career has included both men’s and women’s college basketball programs, adding yet another coach to the family’s basketball résumé.
How T.J. McConnell’s Family Influenced His Basketball Career
T.J. McConnell’s family background helps explain many of the qualities that have allowed him to build a long NBA career despite going undrafted.
He grew up around basketball strategy, practices, games and coaching conversations.
His father demanded discipline and effort, while competition with his siblings ensured that basketball was rarely confined to official practices.
McConnell eventually became an outstanding player at Chartiers Valley before beginning his college career at Duquesne.
After two seasons there, he transferred to Arizona.
McConnell became one of the country’s most respected college point guards with the Wildcats, earning First-Team All-Pac-12 honors as a senior and helping Arizona make deep NCAA Tournament runs.
Despite that success, he was not selected in the 2015 NBA Draft.
McConnell nevertheless earned an opportunity with the Philadelphia 76ers and played well enough during training camp to secure a roster spot.
He spent four seasons in Philadelphia before signing with the Indiana Pacers in 2019.
Indiana became the place where McConnell established himself as one of the NBA’s most reliable reserve point guards.
His relentless defense, passing ability, mid-range scoring and willingness to compete on every possession made him a favorite among teammates and Pacers supporters.
Those characteristics closely resemble the basketball values associated with his father and the larger McConnell family.
T.J. McConnell Honors His Family Before Games
One of the clearest demonstrations of how important family is to McConnell can be seen in his pregame routine.
When entering a game, McConnell touches several tattoos dedicated to the people closest to him.
He has a small tattoo containing his wife Valerie’s name on his right wrist.
Under his right bicep are the names of his sons, Trace and Mack.
Under his left bicep are the names of his siblings, Matty and Megan.
McConnell then points upward and touches the basketball court as part of a personal moment of gratitude before beginning play.
The ritual provides a visible reminder that his NBA career remains closely connected to the family members who have been with him throughout his life.
T.J. McConnell’s Family During the 2025 NBA Finals
The 2025 postseason produced one of the most memorable periods in McConnell family history.
T.J. helped the Pacers win the Eastern Conference championship and advance to the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
His father Tim was frequently present during the playoff run and celebrated with his son on the court after Indiana secured its place in the Finals.
At almost the same time, Megan received another opportunity with the Phoenix Mercury and officially reached the WNBA.
That created a remarkable situation in which Tim and Shelly had one child competing in the NBA Finals while another had just become a WNBA player.
Matty’s previous Division I career at Robert Morris meant all three McConnell children had reached significant levels of basketball.
T.J. described reaching the NBA Finals as one of the greatest basketball moments of his career while making clear that marrying Valerie and the births of his two sons remained even more important personal milestones.
T.J. McConnell’s Family at a Glance
Wife: Valerie Guiliani McConnell.
Marriage: The couple married in September 2017 after knowing each other since their youth in Western Pennsylvania.
Children: Two sons, Trace McConnell and Mack McConnell.
Father: Tim McConnell, former college basketball player and highly successful Pennsylvania high school basketball coach.
Mother: Shelly McConnell.
Brother: Matty McConnell, former Robert Morris basketball player.
Sister: Megan McConnell, former Duquesne star who made her WNBA debut with the Phoenix Mercury in 2025.
Notable aunt: Suzie McConnell-Serio, Olympic gold medalist, former WNBA player and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
Frequently Asked Questions About T.J. McConnell’s Family
Who is T.J. McConnell’s wife?
T.J. McConnell’s wife is Valerie Guiliani McConnell. Valerie is his longtime sweetheart from Western Pennsylvania, and the couple married in September 2017.
Is T.J. McConnell married?
Yes. T.J. McConnell is married to Valerie Guiliani. The Indiana Pacers’ official biography continues to identify Valerie as his wife.
How long have T.J. McConnell and Valerie been together?
T.J. and Valerie knew each other long before his NBA career and became high school sweethearts. They eventually married in 2017.
Does T.J. McConnell have children?
Yes. T.J. McConnell and his wife Valerie have two sons.
What are T.J. McConnell’s sons called?
T.J. McConnell’s sons are named Trace and Mack McConnell. McConnell has both names tattooed underneath his right bicep.
Who are T.J. McConnell’s parents?
T.J. McConnell’s parents are Tim McConnell and Shelly McConnell. They raised T.J. and his two younger siblings in Western Pennsylvania.
Who is T.J. McConnell’s father?
T.J. McConnell’s father is Tim McConnell, a former college basketball player and longtime Pennsylvania high school basketball coach. Tim coached T.J. at Chartiers Valley High School.
Who is T.J. McConnell’s mother?
T.J. McConnell’s mother is Shelly McConnell. She has largely remained outside the spotlight but has been an important source of support for T.J., Matty and Megan throughout their basketball careers.
How many siblings does T.J. McConnell have?
T.J. McConnell has two siblings: younger brother Matty McConnell and younger sister Megan McConnell.
Who is T.J. McConnell’s brother?
T.J. McConnell’s brother is Matty McConnell. Matty played college basketball at Robert Morris University after starring at Chartiers Valley High School.
Who is T.J. McConnell’s sister?
T.J. McConnell’s sister is Megan McConnell. She became one of the best players in Duquesne women’s basketball history before making her WNBA debut with the Phoenix Mercury in 2025.
Are T.J. McConnell and Megan McConnell related?
Yes. Megan McConnell is T.J.’s younger sister. Their brother Matty is the middle child of Tim and Shelly McConnell.
Did T.J. McConnell’s father coach him?
Yes. Tim McConnell coached T.J. at Chartiers Valley High School and played an important role in developing him from a prolific high school scorer into a point guard capable of succeeding at higher levels.
Did T.J. McConnell’s siblings play basketball?
Yes. Both of his siblings played at the Division I level. Matty played at Robert Morris, while Megan starred at Duquesne and later reached the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury.
Is Suzie McConnell-Serio related to T.J. McConnell?
Yes. Suzie McConnell-Serio is T.J. McConnell’s aunt. She was an Olympic gold medalist, WNBA player, college coach and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
Pedro Salcas is a dedicated sports journalist and NBA specialist focused on team strategy, player performance, and league news. Tracking action across the Eastern and Western Conferences, he breaks down complex game tape, roster moves, and statistics into clear, engaging analysis. From preseason storylines to deep playoff runs, Pedro brings a sharp analytical perspective and passion for basketball to keep readers informed on everything happening in the NBA.
