Matt Conly begins his sixth season at Grand Valley as an assistant coach for throwing entering the 2025-26 academic year.
During the 2024-25 seasons, Conly coached 10 athletes to the NCAA DII Indoor and Outdoor Championships. His throws crew claimed two individual national championship titles and 13 All-American honors. Myles Kerner added another title to his résumé in indoor shot put. Erika Beistle earned her fourth national title with a meet record-breaking discus mark at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. Margaret Stevenson and Shelby Ulven both earned National Runner-Up honors during the outdoor season in discus and shot put, respectively.
In the 2023-24 season, Conly's throws crew claimed five individual national championship titles led by Erika Beistle, who claimed three. Beistle earned her first title in the women's shot put at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships, then claimed two titles in the women's shot put and discus during the outdoor season. Myles Kerner swept men's shot put, claiming both indoor and outdoor national titles.
Kerner and Besitle both qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Oregon under Conly's training.
In his time at Grand Valley State, Conly has coached five athletes to 14 individual national championship titles; Judith Essemiah (4), Erika Beistle (4), Myles Kerner (4), Jacob Urban (1), and Bobbie Goodwin (1).
Conly has received six Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year honors, five Women's Assistant Coach of the Year and one Men's Assistant Coach of the Year. In 2023, Conly claimed both the Men's and Women's Assistant Coach of the Year in the outdoor season.
Additionally, four of Conly's athletes are the current Grand Valley State school record holders. Myles Kerner in the men's indoor and outdoor shot put, Erika Beistle in the women's outdoor shot put and discus, Judith Essemiah in the women's weight throw and Bobby Maxwell in the men's javelin.
Conly has guided 56 student-athletes to All-American honors.
Conly joins the Lakers coaching staff from California State University Northridge where he coached two NCAA qualifiers and one All-American. Additionally, Conly helped five throwers set school records and four earn Big West Conference Championships, including one Big West Conference record.
Prior to Cal State Northridge, Conly spent two seasons at the University of Minnesota where he coached one NCAA outdoor qualifier, two indoor qualifiers and a fourth place finisher at the USATF Junior Championships.
Conly has also held coaching stints at Bowling Green State and West Virginia as the women's assistant coach for throwing.
A Ball State graduate and member of the track and field team, Conly is fifth all-time on the Ball State record list for his performances in the javelin throw. He is also a two-time letter winner and the Ball State freshman record holder.
