Former Kaneland head coach Joe Conroy takes over Kishwaukee College men’s basketball program

Coach Joe Conroy knows the value of a junior college both from a personal and athletic standpoint. He also knows a thing or two about basketball in northern Illinois.

So, when he found out Kishwaukee College was searching for a new men’s basketball coach he jumped at the chance.

The former Kaneland and Woodstock North boys basketball coach was named the Kishwaukee men’s program’s 10th head coach last week.

“I think a realistic goal, we want to be competitive,” Conroy said. “We want to put a team on the floor that competes well every day and makes strides that continue to grow the program and give other players coming down the road a vision of what it will look like.”

He takes over for Jay Moore. When reached by email, athletic director Scott Kawall said he did not have time to comment, although in a release he spoke highly of Conroy.

“Coach Conroy has a great deal of professional experience working with student athletes at the high school and college level in his extensive career,” Kawall said. “He is also aligned with the mission of Kishwaukee College athletics to build a family environment while providing student-athletes with a positive academic and athletic environment to grow towards their goals.”

Conroy coached at Kaneland from 2015 to 2017. Currently, he teaches at Kaneland and has an AAU program, Players Advantage.

He attended Illinois Valley, then later coached its women’s program, then he became director of women’s basketball operations at NIU.

“One of the things I value is the opportunity for people to create themselves what they see as the best versions of themselves,” Conroy said. “Junior college is a place for students to do that. That’s what drove me there. I’m a product of community college, my wife is as well. I really know the value of a community college education both academically and athletically.”

Between his AAU program – which features 16 players in Kishwaukee’s district – and his ares ties at the high school level, he said bringing in local players will be a strong point.

“I feel really fortunate that through coaching in northern Illinois, and having run my AAU program, I have really strong relationships with the local high school coaches,” Conroy said. “I feel like I have the advantage where we have a working mutual relationship where we try to get the local talent looking to continue their athletic career to come and see what they can do here.”

Conroy’s goal is competitiveness, and with the players on the roster who played for his AAU club – Austin Brown, Seth Gould and Landan Martin, all Rochelle grads – and DeKalb standout Avery Medina, he feels that is possible.

And he said he’s still looking to expand his roster.

“I have seven players, five returning, two incoming,” Conroy said. “I’m also working on recruiting incredibly hard to find people who are interested in coming here and making an impact.”