without the extenders even after cables 32 are terminated in the modules because in some applications the extenders may not be desirable because they lengthen the overall dimensions of daughterboard connector assembly 28 at this point it should be understood that the concepts of the invention incorporated in extenders 36 and their interconnection with modules 28 are not limited to an application such as with the specific mating connector assembly 10 or backplane connector assembly 12 or daughterboard connector assembly 14 the invention is equally applicable with a wide range of fiber optic connector assemblies or other connector assemblies wherein difficulties are incurred in assembling connector modules into connector housings adapters or the like with those understandings fig4 and 5 show one of the fiber optic connector modules 28 along with a respective one of the extenders 36 specifically each module 28 includes a ferrule 38 for terminating multi fiber cable 32 the ferrule having a front mating face or end 38 a and a rear end 38 b the ferrule includes a pair of through holes or passages not visible in the drawings for receiving a pair of alignment pins 40 fixed to a pin keeper 42 which abuts against the rear of ferrule 38 so that the distal ends of alignment pins 40 project forwardly of front mating face 38 a of ferrule 38 a coil spring 44 is fixed to a rear end of pin keeper 42 and a housing or spring pusher member 46 is fixed to the rear end of the coil spring both pin keeper 42.