George Washington University Athletics
Men’s Soccer Adds Nick Conklu to Coaching Staff
7/18/2024 2:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer
WASHINGTON - The GW men's soccer team and Head Coach Craig Jones announced the addition of Assistant Coach Nick Conklu to the staff on Thursday. Conklu is native of the DMV and comes to GW with youth and NCAA D-II coaching experience, along with playing experience at the D-I, D-II and semi-professional levels.
"I'm extremely grateful to Coach Jones for this incredible opportunity to be on staff with the men's soccer program," said Conklu. "I'm honored to be able to coach at this world class university in our nation's capital. The university's mission and purpose, and the GW Athletics' core values connect with who I am as a person and coach, and I look forward to contributing to the program and making a positive impact."
Conklu comes to GW from the University of the District of Columbia, where he was the Volunteer Assistant & Goalkeeper Coach for the 2023 season. There he was in charge of planning and implementing multiple goalkeeper sessions per week, along with goalkeeper match analysis and opponent scouting reports. Additionally, Conklu assisted the head coach with team practices, game preparations and local recruiting of future student-athletes. In his only season coaching at UDC, Conklu helped produce an East Coast Conference (ECC) Third Team All-Conference Goalkeeper, while helping the team to a runner-up finish at the ECC Tournament Championship.
Conklu also has experience as the U13-U19 MLS NEXT Academy Goalkeeper Coach and as the Head of Academy Futsol Goalkeeper Program at the Alexandria Soccer Association.
A product of the Arlington Soccer Association in his youth, Conklu was recruited and played college soccer at Holy Cross, where he served as team captain during the 2020-21 season. While with the Crusaders, Conklu was a two time recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award (2019, 2020), was named three times to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll (2017, 2019, 2020) and he was tabbed to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team (2020).
From there, Conklu transferred to Molloy University (NCAA - DII) where he excelled for two seasons as the primary goalkeeper with a career 1.06 GAA. Playing in the ECC, Conklu went from Third Team All-Conference in 2021 to First Team All-Conference and Co-Goalkeeper of the Year in 2022. He was later named the ECC Men's Soccer Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Conklu also has semi-professional playing experience for the Alexandria Reds in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). There he helped the Reds to an NPSL Mid-Atlantic Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championship in 2022.
Conklu currently holds a U.S. Soccer National D Coaching License and plans to continue his coaching education. Conklu graduated Cum Laude from Holy Cross with a degree in Chemistry and Spanish, and later earned his Masters of Science from Molloy University in Criminal Justice.
"I'm excited to be working with this group of talented players and collaborating with an experienced coaching staff to achieve our shared objectives and work towards elevating the program to attain consistent success in the Atlantic 10 Conference and NCAA," Conklu added. "Raise High!"
