Jen Conely was named head coach of Parkside Women’s Basketball in July 2018.
Conely has steadily built the program into a consistent contender in the GLIAC. Since taking over the Rangers, Conely has guided the team to a .500 or better record in conference play every season and currently owns the second-best winning percentage of any head coach in program history, trailing only Parkside Hall of Fame coach Jenny Knight-Kenesie. Under her leadership, the Rangers have rewritten the record books with numerous individual and team achievements, while consistently competing at the top of the GLIAC.
The 2024-25 season was one of the program’s best in recent memory, as Parkside finished 18-10 overall, marking the most wins since 2014-15. The year was highlighted by the most memorable victory of Conely’s tenure, as the Rangers stunned then-undefeated, No. 1-ranked Grand Valley State, 79-77, inside De Simone Arena.
A year earlier, the Rangers posted a 16-12 record in 2023-24, continuing their streak of strong performances. In 2022-23, Parkside went 18-11 overall and 13-5 in GLIAC play, earning the right to host a GLIAC Tournament game for the first time under Conely.
Conely first led the Rangers to a winning season in 2019-20, when the team went 16-14 overall and 12-8 in conference play, advancing to the GLIAC semifinals. In 2020-21, Parkside went 11-10 in a shortened season and made a memorable postseason run, upsetting No. 2 Grand Valley State to reach the GLIAC semifinals. The 2021-22 squad posted a 15-14 overall mark, highlighted by an eight-game winning streak and a postseason berth. That year, Alyssa Nelson earned GLIAC Player of the Year, Commissioner’s Award honors, and WBCA All-America recognition.
Across her tenure, Conely has developed numerous All-GLIAC and All-Region performers, including Nelson, who became one of the most decorated players in program history.
Prior to her arrival at Parkside, Conely served as an assistant coach at Walsh University (2017-18), helping the Cavaliers to a 21-9 record and a Great Midwest Athletic Conference runner-up finish. She also spent a season at Ursuline College, where she was part of a 23-8 campaign that ended with an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Conely is also familiar with the GLVC and Midwest basketball, having spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Indianapolis. During her tenure, she helped the Greyhounds to a 155-88 record, six NCAA Tournament appearances, and the development of 14 All-Conference performers, including two All-Americans.
As a player, Conely starred at Florida Gulf Coast University prior to its transition to Division I. In her senior season, she helped lead the Eagles to a 34-1 record and an appearance in the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship game.
The Warren, Minn., native holds an associate degree from Lake Region State College (2005), a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and social science from Florida Gulf Coast (2007), and a master’s degree in history from the University of Indianapolis (2009).
