University of Minnesota Athletics
Conly Joins Gophers Coaching Staff
8/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – Matt Conly has joined the University of Minnesota men’s track & field program as an assistant coach, Gophers Director of Men’s Track & Field and Cross Country Steve Plasencia announced on Wednesday. Conly will oversee Minnesota’s throwers, replacing Lynden Reder.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Conly joins the Gophers staff after five seasons at Bowling Green State University, serving as an assistant coach for throws with the Falcons’ women’s track & field program.
“Matt has established himself as one of the top up-and-coming throws coaches in the nation, and he is a terrific addition to our staff at Minnesota,” Plasencia said. “Our throws group has a rich and proud history of success at the highest level, and Matt’s experience and work ethic shows that he has what it takes to make us even better as a unit and as a program. We are thrilled to welcome Matt and his wife, Kelly, to the Gopher family.”
At Bowling Green, Conly coached his throwers to four All-America honors, three Academic All-America nods, four Mid-American Conference champions and four school records. Among his decorated student-athletes with the Falcons was Brooke Pleger – the program’s first three-time First Team All-American, who capped her college career with back-to-back third-place finishes in the hammer throw at the NCAA championships. Conly’s coaching and tutelage was recognized by the USTFCCCA with two-consecutive nominations for Great Lakes Region Women’s Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015.
“First and foremost, I’d like to thank Coach Plasencia, Marc Ryan and the search committee for giving me an incredible opportunity to join the coaching staff here at Minnesota,” Conly said. “I really felt comfortable and right at home through this process and it’s an honor to be a part of this program. Growing up, competing and coaching in the Midwest created a dream for me of working in the Big Ten Conference. I’m thrilled to have that come to life here at Minnesota.”
“The foundation of success in the throws has been laid by Coach Reder, and the deep tradition of this program makes this a very exciting role to step into. My goal is to develop the young men in this program as students, athletes and as people, of the highest caliber. My wife and I look forward to joining a wonderful community and an athletic department that is truly committed to creating a first-class student-athlete experience. I can’t wait to get started at the ‘U’!”
Prior to joining the Bowling Green program, Conly served as an assistant coach at West Virginia from 2008-11 and was a member of the 2011 Big East Coaching Staff of the Year. His Midwestern coaching roots began as an assistant coach at Muncie Central (Ind.) High School from 2004-05 before taking over as the head coach at New Castle Chrysler (Ind.) High School from 2006-08.
Conly is a graduate of Ball State University, where he majored in physical education and health science. At BSU, Conly competed for the Cardinals’ track and field squad before it was disbanded after 2003. Conly finished third in the javelin at the 2003 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships and was an NCAA Mideast Regional qualifier that year. In 2002, he finished eighth at the MAC Championships and set a BSU freshman record in the javelin. He ranks third on Ball State’s all-time list.
Conly holds a USATF Level I Coaches Certification and is also a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and the National Throws Coaches Association.
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