Michigan Hires Maryland’s Kevin Conry As Head Coach

UPDATE #3: Michigan has made it official. Per the press release:

University of Michigan Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel announced today (Wednesday, June 21) the appointment of Kevin Conry as the second head coach in men's lacrosse program history. Conry arrives in Ann Arbor after spending the last five seasons at the University of Maryland as defensive coordinator and the last two as associate head coach.

"I am excited to welcome Kevin Conry to the University of Michigan," said Manuel. "Kevin has a diverse background in the Big Ten landscape, which will be a huge asset as we continue to build on the success of our program."

"My wife, daughters and I could not be more excited to join the Michigan Athletics family, and Ann Arbor community," said Conry of the appointment. "The University of Michigan represents a standard of excellence that I look forward to upholding. I would like to thank sport administrator Bitsy Ritt and athletic director Warde Manuel for their commitment to the sport of lacrosse, and this amazing opportunity to be a head coach in the best lacrosse conference in the country."

Got’em.

UPDATE #2: Inside Lacrosse has confirmed our report.

Sources also report that Marquette Golden Eagles head coach Joe Amplo and Towson Tigers head coach Shawn Nadelen were both offered the job, but turned down the offer. Nadelen officially turned down the offer yesterday. Conry was the third candidate behind the two head coaches.

UPDATE #1: A Michigan athletic department representative offered no comment.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Multiple sources have told College Crosse that former Maryland Terrapins associate head coach and defensive coordinator Kevin Conry will be the next head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.

Conry has been at Maryland since 2012 as defensive coordinator, but was promoted to associate head coach prior to the start of the 2016 season. He’s been a part of multiple Final Four runs and helped lead the Terrapins to a National Championship this past May, their first since 1975. His defensive unit gave up just 14 goals during Championship Weekend, and senior All-American Tim Muller was the first defender in the history of the NCAA Tournament to be named Most Outstanding Player.

Conry was named the 2015 IMLCA Assistant Coach of the Year and has been a defensive mastermind while at College Park, having a top-10 ranked defense in four of his five seasons there, including the top-ranked defense in 2015.

Prior to Maryland, Conry spent four years with the Fairfield Stags, with his final two being their associate head coach. He made the Stags a top 16 defense in his final three years in Connecticut. He also spent time with the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Siena Saints.

Outside of Maryland and Penn State, Conry has a connection with Johns Hopkins, as he graduated from the school in 2004 and was part of the school’s runner-up finish in 2003.

To me, this is a surprising hire, but a great one for Michigan. I advocated for them to get a defensive minded coach such as Shawn Nadelen from the Towson Tigers, but he stated that he’s fine with where he’s at. Gerry Byrne from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish was another popular name floated around, but Conry has experience with other Big Ten schools. He’s been a part of three already, and this will be his fourth.

Michigan is opening up their new facility for lacrosse known as the Athletics South Competition and Performance Project in the winter of 2018. Conry will have a lacrosse facility at his disposal, along with the big name of Michigan as well.

The Wolverines had a program-best 8-6 record in 2017, but went winless in Big Ten play. Former head coach John Paul was let go shortly after the end of the season, along with their women’s head coach.

Updated Coaching Carousel Big Board is below: