New track coach fitting in nicely
Patrick Timmis
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports
Caden Conley doesn't look like a coach. Tall, young and wiry, he could easily be mistaken as a member of the track team, rather than the newest member of its staff.
Conley grew up in nearby Homer, Mich., and graduated from Sienna Heights College in 2008. At Sienna, Conley earned All-American honors in track and field. He also gained exposure to Hillsdale.
"I ran against Hillsdale a lot in college, so I'm familiar with their program," Conley said. "They knew what they were getting into with me."
Head coach Bill Lundberg said Conley came highly recommended by the Sienna Heights coach, and he has exceeded his billing.
Conley is working with an incoming class of athletes that was recruited by Towne. Krout said the freshmen might have been unsure at first about working with a different coach than they had expected, but that they are excited and enthusiastic to start competing.
Lundberg agreed, saying Conley and the athletes are taking to each other.
"He's well liked already," Lundberg said. "We're not missing a step as far as the quality and the character we're seeing from Caden."
Lundberg said that Conley is adjusting well from being an athlete to being a coach, and that Conley's youth can actually be an asset, allowing him to be hands on as he demonstrates to the athletes.
Senior Jared Krout said Conley is knowledgeable about the sport, although it will take him a little bit of time to learn the in's and out's of Hillsdale's program.
"He's done almost everything (in his collegiate career) as far as sprints, hurdles, and jumps are concerned," Krout said
For Conley, who spent the last year working on his brother-in-law's farm, this job is launching him into his dream career.
"I've always wanted to coach, so this is my first foot in the door," Conley said.
Conley actually began coaching in high school and college, assisting younger athletes and running track and field camps for local kids.
"It kind of grew from there I guess," he said.
Lundberg said that Conley was very drawn to the quality of Hillsdale and it's student-athletes. He is helping assistant coach Jeff Forino, who has been worked hard since assistant coach Andy Towne left the program last semester.
The track teams' next event is the D-II Challenge in Findlay, Ohio, Feb. 5 and 6.
Conley grew up in nearby Homer, Mich., and graduated from Sienna Heights College in 2008. At Sienna, Conley earned All-American honors in track and field. He also gained exposure to Hillsdale.
"I ran against Hillsdale a lot in college, so I'm familiar with their program," Conley said. "They knew what they were getting into with me."
Head coach Bill Lundberg said Conley came highly recommended by the Sienna Heights coach, and he has exceeded his billing.
Conley is working with an incoming class of athletes that was recruited by Towne. Krout said the freshmen might have been unsure at first about working with a different coach than they had expected, but that they are excited and enthusiastic to start competing.
Lundberg agreed, saying Conley and the athletes are taking to each other.
"He's well liked already," Lundberg said. "We're not missing a step as far as the quality and the character we're seeing from Caden."
Lundberg said that Conley is adjusting well from being an athlete to being a coach, and that Conley's youth can actually be an asset, allowing him to be hands on as he demonstrates to the athletes.
Senior Jared Krout said Conley is knowledgeable about the sport, although it will take him a little bit of time to learn the in's and out's of Hillsdale's program.
"He's done almost everything (in his collegiate career) as far as sprints, hurdles, and jumps are concerned," Krout said
For Conley, who spent the last year working on his brother-in-law's farm, this job is launching him into his dream career.
"I've always wanted to coach, so this is my first foot in the door," Conley said.
Conley actually began coaching in high school and college, assisting younger athletes and running track and field camps for local kids.
"It kind of grew from there I guess," he said.
Lundberg said that Conley was very drawn to the quality of Hillsdale and it's student-athletes. He is helping assistant coach Jeff Forino, who has been worked hard since assistant coach Andy Towne left the program last semester.
The track teams' next event is the D-II Challenge in Findlay, Ohio, Feb. 5 and 6.
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