North Park University Names Mike Conway Head Football Coach

CHICAGO, Dec. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- North Park University today named Michael C. Conway head football coach.

Conway, a native of Pittsburgh, comes to North Park after successful coaching stints as both an assistant and head coach for NCCAA, NAIA and NCAA Division I, II and III programs, and most recently, has been coaching at California University of Pennsylvania.

"I am honored and excited to become the head football coach at North Park University," Conway said. "The vision and leadership of the president and administration allowed us to have clarity in our decision to become part of North Park. My family and I are excited to join the North Park community, and return to the Chicago area."

"Mike Conway is a proven 'turn around' coach and a consistent winner at three levels of intercollegiate football," said Dr. Jack Surridge, North Park director of athletics. "His previous success as a head coach and his deep resonance with the North Park mission give us confidence in his ability to lead the Viking football program."

Conway has served as the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at California University of Pennsylvania, an NCAA Division II institution, for the last 11 seasons. There, he helped guide the Vulcans to a 97-36 record, including five-straight playoff appearances since the 2007 season.

Prior to coaching at California University, Conway was associate head coach, and defensive and special teams coordinator at Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa. As head coach at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., his alma mater, he led the Tigers to a 31-14 record over a four-year period. Conway was also defensive coordinator at Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, Pa., assistant coach of defensive ends at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., and defensive line coach at Arkansas State University, Jonesboro.

As a player, Conway was a member of the Tigers' offensive line, and was twice selected an All-American. He played professionally in the CFL, USFL and the NFL, before a back injury ended his career.

Conway earned his undergraduate degree in sociology and communication from Olivet Nazarene and a master's degree in health education from Penn State University. He and his wife Beth Ann have two sons, Dakota and T.D.

Conway succeeds Scott Pethtel, who served as head coach for seven seasons before resigning at the end of the 2012 season.

Read more at http://athletics.northpark.edu/

SOURCE North Park University