One of the most successful soccer coaches in Michigan High School Athletic Association history is returning to Hope College, his alma mater, to lead the men’s soccer program.
John Conlon ’97 has been named as the Flying Dutchmen’s 10th soccer coach, Director of Athletics Tim Schoonveld announced today.
Conlon has won 674 games and five Michigan High School Athletic Association championships coaching boys and girls soccer for East Kentwood and Byron Center high schools. At Hope, he follows Dave Brandt, who stepped down after four seasons to become the head coach at NCAA Division I Bucknell University.
“We are so excited to have John join our team,” Schoonveld said. “He has had proven success and excellence in his coaching career. Beyond his coaching success, his work impacting the lives of so many young men and women in very diverse settings has shown his ability to transform lives. His love of Hope College and the work we are doing as a department and a college will provide exactly what we need to change lives.
“We are thrilled to welcome John and Kelly, along with Brody, Caleb and Lauren, to the Hope College team and look forward to the impact they will make.”
Conlon calls the opportunity to come back to Hope College and lead the men’s soccer program a dream come true.
“Hope College was the birthplace of my love of coaching, and my four years spent on Hope's campus did more to develop me as a person than any other time in my life,” Conlon said. “I will work tirelessly to make us successful and to make sure we transform the lives of young men in the program.”
As a student-athlete at Hope, Conlon started as a midfielder for four seasons for the Steven Smith-coached Flying Dutchmen soccer team from 1993-96. He helped Hope three-peat as Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association champions during his senior, junior and sophomore seasons.
Conlon was voted as the MIAA’s Most Valuable Player for the 1995 season by the league’s coaches. He was selected to the All-MIAA First Team three times (1994-96). He totaled 36
points during his career with 18 goals and 18 assists. He received National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-America honors and was a three-time NSCAA all-region selection.
Conlon graduated from Hope after majoring in both psychology and communication. He went on to earn a master’s degree in the Art of Teaching from Aquinas College in 2002.
As a coach, Conlon has recorded a .804 winning percentage of 38 combined high school seasons. He also has taught fifth grade at Kentwood Public Schools for 22 years; he is currently at Endeavor Elementary.
During his boys tenure from 2000 through 2021, Conlon guided the Falcons to a 376-74-51 overall record and state championships in 2016, 2012, 2010, 2008, and 2007. With 376 wins, he is one of seven high school coaches in Michigan all-time to reach the 300-win milestone in boys soccer.
East Kentwood was the first Division 1 team from West Michigan to win a state title and the first Division I team in Michigan to repeat as state champion. The Falcons also claimed seven MHSAA regional titles, nine MHSAA district titles, and 12 OK Red Conference championships.
East Kentwood was nationally- and regionally-ranked in 16 consecutive seasons beginning in 2006. The Falcons also finished in the top 10 in Michigan state rankings 20 consecutive seasons beginning in 2002. Before Conlon started coaching, East Kentwood had only two seasons with a winning record.
Conlon also coached the East Kentwood girls soccer program for 17 seasons from 2003 through 2019. He led the Falcons to a 278-57-22 overall record, 12 OK Red championships, one MHSAA regional title and five MHSAA district championships. During his tenure, East Kentwood was ranked in the top 10 in the state every year beginning in 2003.
“My 22 years coaching at East Kentwood were amazing because of the incredible community in Kentwood,” Conlon said. “The players, administration, parents, teachers, and coaches at East Kentwood made my job incredibly rewarding. I will always have a deep appreciation and love for my time coaching in Kentwood.”
Last spring, Conlon guided the Byron Center girls soccer team to a 20-2-1 overall record and the Bulldogs’ first state semifinal appearance in his first season at the helm. He will coach at Byron Center this spring and needs two wins to become the ninth MHSAA girls soccer coach all-time to reach the 300-win milestone.
Conlon was selected as the National Federation of High School Coach of the Year in 2016 and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Large School National Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2007. He also was named Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year five times. He was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020.
Conlon has been a member of the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association since 2000. A 12-year board member, he served a variety of roles for the organization, including three terms apiece as president and vice-president.
Conlon has served as the youth soccer director for Midwest United FC since 2009. Midwest United FC features more than 120 club teams and 2,500 soccer players. From 2002 through 2009, he was the director of coaching and club development for the Kentwood Soccer Club.