Kishwaukee College has announced the hiring of its next Head Coach for Men’s Basketball. Joe Conroy will take the helm as the 10th head coach in program history, bringing a wealth of basketball knowledge and an extensive resume that spans more than three decades.
One of Conroy’s first coaching jobs after graduating from DePaul University was as the head coach of the Illinois Valley Community College women’s team, who also plays in the Arrowhead Conference and NJCAA Region IV with Kish. He would go on to serve as the Director of Women’s Basketball Operations at Northern Illinois University, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Eastern Illinois University and Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before returning to NIU to serve as Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach. Conroy has also held head coaching positions for the Woodstock North High School and Kaneland High School boys basketball teams.
As a former student and coach at the community college level, Conroy said he looks forward to promoting the opportunities Kish can provide while building connections with recruits locally and throughout the region.
“I think initially we want to continue the academic excellence that has been set here,” Conroy said. “I truly believe education can get people to where they want to go in life. I look at community college as a place where students have a great opportunity to get a great education and get to where they want to be.”
One main goal Conroy emphasized is continuing Kish’s strong academic standards as he looks to recruit talented and competitive student-athletes.
“I really look forward to working with all the local high schools and coaches to show them what Kish has to offer so we can continue to build a program everyone can be proud of,” Conroy said. “We’re a community college. So, we want the community to be included, and I look forward to building those relationships.”
“Coach Conroy has a great deal of professional experience working with student-athletes at the high school and college level in his extensive career,” said Kishwaukee College Athletic Director Scott Kawall. “He is also aligned with the mission of Kishwaukee College Athletics to build a family environment while providing student-athletes with a positive academic and athletic environment to grow towards their goals.”
Recruiting is a top priority for the upcoming 2021-2022 season as the Kougars look to establish a strong roster and rebuild after the pandemic. Conroy is even beginning to recruit the future class of 2022 to educate students earlier on how community colleges can make a significant impact on their lives.
“I believe recruiting is all about building relationships. You understand what they want to be and you paint that picture of how you can help achieve their dreams.” Conroy said. “Athletics can help develop the characteristics needed to be successful.”
Conroy is currently the director of Players Advantage Basketball, an AAU team based in Elburn, and continues to work as a business teacher at Kaneland High School. He and his wife Cari live in Elburn and have three sons — Ethan, Mason and Porter.
For more information on the Men's Basketball team at Kishwaukee College, contact Joe Conroy at jconroy@kish.edu or 815-825-9343 or visit www.kishkougars.com. For more information on Kishwaukee College, visit www.kish.edu.