Grand Valley State names Jim Conlon as women’s soccer head coach

ALLENDALE, Mich. – Grand Valley State Director of Athletics, Keri Becker, has announced the hiring of James “Jim” Conlon as the fourth head coach in the history of the GVSU women’s soccer program.

Conlon takes over the Lakers after 12 seasons at the helm of Division III Washington University, where he led the Bears to three National Championship appearances and the program’s first-ever title in 2016.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Conlon has an overall career coaching record of 412-142-34 (.730). At WashU he posted a 208-37-19 record (.824) and reached the NCAA Tournament in each season while capturing nine University Athletic Association (UAA) titles.

“Jim has a proven track record of building and sustaining championship excellence. His coaching values and philosophies align perfectly with our mindset and culture,” said Becker. “Our search committee was determined to find someone who will provide our student-athletes with the best experience possible while maintaining the championship level of play on the field and I believe we’ve found that in Jim.”

The Lakers are defending National Champions after winning the title in 2019. Grand Valley State has a Division II record six national titles, including three under Jeff Hosler, who departed this summer for Michigan State.

“I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead a program with such a rich tradition of championship excellence,” Conlon said. “Grand Valley State is a special place where young women can grow as athletes, as professionals and as people. I’m honored to be trusted to continue to grow the culture and success of this program and build upon what Jeff (Hosler) and Dave (DiIanni) have created here.”

Conlon and his staff have been honored by United Soccer Coaches as regional staff of the year four times, including National Staff honors in 2015, and he has mentored 20 All-Americans and five Academic All-Americans. Under his tutelage, Lizzy Crist earned a Division III Honda Award, was United Soccer Coaches National Player and Scholar Athlete of the Year and NCAA Woman of the Year.

Prior to joining WashU, Conlon served as both the men’s and women’s head coach at Division III Wartburg (Waverly, Iowa) where he became the first full-time head coach and improved both programs from sub-.300-win percentages in his first year to double-digit wins by both programs in each of his final four seasons. He led the men to four NCAA Tournament appearances and got the women to their first-ever NCAA Tournament in his final season before departing for WashU.

Conlon was a four-year varsity letter winner at Loras College, where upon graduation he began his coaching career as an assistant for both the men’s and women’s team while earning a master’s degree in physical education.