Kolin Conner was announced as the next head baseball coach at IU Kokomo on July 1st, 2025, having spent the past 10 seasons on staff at Concordia University Chicago (CUC). After serving as the Head Assistant/Recruiting Coordinator at CUC from August 2015 - June 2019, Conner was elevated to head coach in June of 2019, having spent the last six seasons as the leader of the Concordia University Chicago Cougars.
Under his leadership, Conner coached both a Terry Schubert Award Winner as well as an AW Gross Award Winner, all while leading his team to the highest male team gpa on campus each of the last six seasons. The 2025 season proved to be the most successful on the diamond, with the Cougars of CUC finishing the season 26-16 overall, and 16-8 in conference play.
In his six years at the helm of the program, he saw 25 student-athletes earn All-Conference honors with seven named All-Region, including one ABCA Division III Region All-Defensive Player. He also had 72 named All-Conference Scholar Athletes, one earning Academic All-American honors, and 14 being selected as CSC Academic All-District. Prior to his time as head coach, Conner helped lead CUC to the first two Division III World Series appearances in program history, doing so while coaching a pair of All-Americans, three Conference Players of the Year, and eight All-Region honorees.
Conner had this to say in regards to his new position as head coach at IU Kokomo: "I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity to lead the IU Kokomo baseball program," said new IU Kokomo head coach Kolin Conner. "I want to sincerely thank Director of Athletics Heather Hayes and the entire search committee for placing their trust in me. This is an incredible opportunity both personally and professionally for me and my family, and we are ecstatic for the challenge ahead. I look forward to building on the foundation that's been laid and helping our student-athletes succeed on and off the field!"
Kolin played collegiately at Lincoln Trail (NJCAA) before transferring to St. Joseph's College (NCAA DII) to round out his college career. Upon graduation from Saint Joesph's in 2013 with a Bachelor's Degree in Educational Studies, Conner played a season apiece for the Joliet Slammers and Evansville Otters of the Frontier League before returning to his alma mater in Rensselaer to begin his coaching career.
A Hoosier native and North Central High School graduate, Conner plans to reside in the greater Kokomo area with his wife, Lyndsey, their seven-year-old son, Leo, and four-year-old daughter, Layla.
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