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KJ Conklin has joined Olney Central College as an assistant men’s basketball coach.
“I am extremely excited about working with these players,” Conklin said. “I’ve had a chance to meet and work with them for the last two weeks and they have a passion to get better. With the delayed start to the season, we will have the additional time to do that. I am really looking forward helping them in their journey both off and on the court.”
Conklin previously served as a graduate assistant coach at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, La. While at Louisiana Tech, Conklin assisted in all day-to-day operations of the program including travel arrangements, recruiting efforts and summer basketball camp.
During his time at Louisiana Tech, the Bulldogs compiled a 42-21 record. In his second season, the team finished tied for second in the Conference USA standings with Western Kentucky and led Conference USA in total wins with 22.
Interim Men’s Basketball Head Coach Casey Wyllie is excited to have Conklin on the Blue Knights’ coaching staff.
“He is a worker that will bring a tremendous amount of energy on a daily basis that will benefit our program,” Wyllie said. “ KJ came very highly recommended from the entire Louisiana Tech basketball staff. His experiences at the Division I level will be valuable for our players and entire program."
Wyllie also served as a graduate assistant coach for Louisiana Tech from 2015-2017.
“I’ve gotten to know Coach Wyllie and I’m excited to work with him,” Conklin said. “OCC has a great program, which enjoys great community support.”
Before going to Louisiana Tech, Conklin served as a varsity assistant basketball coach at Sterling High School in Illinois for the 2017-18 season under coach Ryan Vasquez. In that season, Sterling went 23-10, won the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference Championship and made an IHSA 3A Sweet 16 appearance while also amassing a 15-game winning streak.
Prior to Sterling, Conklin served as a student manager for four years at Illinois State under head coach Dan Muller and received his bachelor's degree in Social Science Education. While at ISU, Conklin aided in opponent individual player scouting, supervision of team managers, and contributed in recruiting evaluations and letters.
A native of Rock Falls, Conklin also served as a Pure Sweat intern under NBA skills trainer Drew Hanlen during the summers of 2018 and 2019. As an intern, he helped with the development of several premier NBA and college players in the pre-draft process. Conklin previously worked college basketball camps at Iowa, Marquette, Kentucky, Illinois State and Louisiana Tech.
