ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tə ɹᵻpˈoːɹts ɪn ɐ lˈoʊkəl nˈuːzpeɪpɚ, mə kˈɑːnəl ɡɹˈuː ˌʌp ɪn nˈɑːpə, kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə, ænd ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm vˈɪntɪdʒ hˈaɪ skˈuːl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti θɹˈiː, wˌɛɹ hiː wʌzðə kˈæptɪn ʌvðə fˈʊtbɔːl tˈiːm.
According to reports in a local newspaper, McConnell grew up in Napa, California, and graduated from Vintage High School in 1993, where he was the captain of the football team.