Jeff Conarroe, associate head coach for the men's basketball program at Division I California State University, Bakersfield, has accepted the position of head men's basketball coach at Colorado College, Vice President and Director of Athletics
Lesley Irvine announced today.
Conarroe, a 1999 graduate and three-year letter winner in basketball at Colorado College, spent the last nine seasons at CSU Bakersfield, the first eight as an assistant coach before his promotion to associate head coach prior to the 2019-20 campaign. He will begin his duties at CC on June 2.
"Colorado College is a special place that is an ideal fit for me and my family," Conarroe said. "I am grateful to
Lesley Irvine for believing in me, her passion for Colorado College and vision for CC Athletics is clear and she is a big reason I am coming home. I would also like to thank President Tiefenthaler for this opportunity and her excellent leadership of the College, and Dean (Mike) Edmonds, who has been a mentor to me just like many alums, I can't thank him enough."
During his tenure at CSUB, Conarroe helped head coach Rod Barnes rebuild the program and send the `Runners to their first-ever berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament in 2016 and three postseason appearances in the last four years, excluding the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season.
"I am thrilled to welcome Jeff back home to Colorado College," Irvine said. "Jeff stood out in what was a very competitive national search. He is a high integrity leader whose passion for his alma mater is contagious and engaging. I have no doubt that the men's basketball program will thrive under his leadership and look forward to supporting him and the program in this next chapter."
On the court, the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons were the most memorable for the `Runners during Conarroe's tenure. He helped guide the team to a 49-19 record and a 26-2 mark in the Icardo Center during that span. In 2015-16, CSUB earned its spot in "March Madness" after winning the Western Athletic Conference tournament.
The following season, the `Runners won the WAC regular-season championship and became the first-ever No. 8 seed to reach the NIT semifinals. CSUB also finished No. 9 in the mid-major Top 25 with the highest RPI in program history at 59. The `Runners were in the Top 10 of several defensive categories nationally, including a No. 1 ranking in transition defense and No. 2 ranking in defensive points per possession, while the team included its first-ever Defensive All-American selection (Jaylin Airington).
The 2018-19 season featured CSUB's third trip to the postseason in the last four years as Bakersfield accepted an invitation to the CollegeInisder.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) and again proved to be a force on the road. CSUB won back-to-back games away from home before falling in the CIT quarterfinals.
Conarroe was integral in the academic transformation of the CSUB men's basketball program, which graduated 30 players in seven years. During that period, the program also achieved a perfect APR score of 1000 and raised the team cumulative grade-point average above 2.7. As a reflection of their efforts in the classroom, eight `Runners earned academic all-conference honors during Conarroe's tenure.
Prior to his stint at CSUB, Conarroe worked with Barnes as director of operations at Georgia State from 2007-11 and an administrative aide and graduate assistant at the University of Mississippi from 2003-06.
"I have been fortunate to work with one of the best coaches in the country for 16 years of my career," Conarroe said. "Coach Barnes has been an exceptional mentor and gigantic influence on my life. His resume speaks for itself, but he is loyal and a great friend. He and his wife Bridgett have made my family a part of their family. It will be hard to leave as the players, staff and alumni are all such big part of our lives. We are so thankful to CSUB and the city of Bakersfield for accepting us as your own. There is no doubt there is legacy here and I'm honored to be a part of it."
After playing basketball for three years at Colorado College and receiving the team's Tiger Award for inspirational leadership, Conarroe graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in economics and served as an assistant coach at the school during the 1999-2000 season.
"The Colorado College student-athlete experience is one of the best in the country," Conarroe added. "We should quickly be able to build a championship culture as CC is the premier platform to achieve a holistic standard of excellence on and off the court and in the lives of our student athletes. Everything the school's ethos embodies creates opportunities where competitive success and academic excellence should be expected."
Following a year away from the game, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Monarch High School in Louisville, Colo., before attending Ole Miss for graduate school. He earned his master's degree in business administration from Ole Miss in 2004.
Conarroe's wife, the former Mary Everett, lettered three years in Division I soccer and four years in Division III lacrosse at Colorado College. She is third on the career scoring list for lacrosse with 252 points and led the Tigers to their first-ever NCAA playoff berth as an All-America selection as a senior in 1999. As a member of the soccer team, she collected 18 career goals and 45 points and, in 2008, became was the first female inducted into the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame that played at both the Division I and III levels.
The Conarroe's are the proud parents of two sons, Caleb (9) and Cooper (7).
What They Are Saying About Jeff Conarroe
Mike White, Men's Basketball Coach
University of Florida
"
Jeff Conarroe is the entire package. I have had the opportunity to work with him and follow him closely. I have admired from afar the incredible job that he and Coach Barnes did at CSUB. Jeff is an elite recruiter, educator, communicator and mentor. Most importantly, he is a tremendous human being. I am so excited for Colorado College. It is so fitting for him to come full circle, and I can't wait to follow his success at CC!"
Rod Barnes, Men's Basketball Coach
California State University, Bakersfield
"I have worked alongside Jeff for 16 years. I watched him grow and mature as a coach and strong leader. His work ethic is second to none. He cares about the student-athletes' well-being both on and off the court. As a person, he is loyal and his impact at every one of his coaching stops has been transformational. I have multiple former coaches and players who have moved on in their careers to become head coaches. I have no doubt that
Jeff Conarroe, as your head coach, will be a valuable asset to the athletic department and the Colorado College community."
Dr. Ziggy Siegfried, Director of Athletics
California State University, Bakersfield
"What a great hire by Athletics Director
Lesley Irvine! Coach Conarroe is very special to our CSU Bakersfield family. He came to work every day for nine years focused on making our men's basketball program better than it was the day before. He was instrumental in the success of our program, including the program's first WAC Tournament championship (2016), first trip to the NCAA Tournament (2016), first WAC regular-season championship (2017), and a trip to the NIT semifinals (2017). He also was integral in a complete academic transformation for the men's basketball program. Coach Conarroe is one of the most intelligent and hard-working men of integrity I know and I am so happy and proud of him. He is also a great father, dad, and friend. Congratulations to Colorado College!"
Jeff Konya, Director of Athletics and Recreation
Northeastern University
"This is a great hire for Colorado College. I have had the opportunity to watch Jeff up close at Cal State Bakersfield and saw the impact he had on advancing that program to unprecedented heights. His knowledge and passion are evident, and I have no doubt he will bring success to the basketball program at his alma mater."
