New Faces Set to Start Track and Field Careers at U-M
Shean Conlon joined the University of Michigan men's and women's track and field staff in September 2010 and is in his third season working with the Wolverine pole vaulters.
Throughout his six years of men's and women's collegiate pole vaulting experience, he has developed five school record holders, 10 all-conference performers and five conference champions.
During his time at Michigan, Conlon has guided several U-M pole vaulters to success on the conference and national level, including one Big Ten champion, six NCAA Preliminary Round qualifiers and one three-time NCAA Championship qualifier.
In 2012, he directed Kiley Tobel to appearances at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, where she earned First and Second Team All-America honors, respectively. Tobel also received Second Team Outdoor All-Big Ten accolades, set new indoor and outdoor pole vault records at Michigan and was named U-M's Female Breakthrough Athlete of the Year. Conlon also guided Jack Greenlee to the Big Ten Conference outdoor pole vault title, where he earned First Team All-Big Ten honors.
In his first season with the Maize and Blue in 2011, Conlon produced three NCAA Preliminary Round qualifiers, one NCAA qualifier and helped Austin DeWildt and Tobel earn their team's respective Most Improved Athlete award.
Conlon's coaching responsibilities include designing and implementing innovative and personalized training programs for pole vaulters, which focus on speed, strength, power and gymnastic development, with a unified theme of improving technical efficiency. He also assists the coaching staffs in identifying and evaluating potential student-athletes. Conlon also coordinates all pole vault training during Michigan track and field camps and clinics.
In 2006, Conlon graduated from Oberlin College with a bachelor's degree in archaeological studies and religious studies. He went on to earn a master's degree in exercise physiology from Eastern Michigan University, where he was a graduate assistant coach and completed a master's thesis on the "Effect of Recovery Duration on Acceleration and Blood Lactate Levels in Pole-Vaulters."
Prior to arriving at Eastern Michigan, Conlon spent two seasons at his alma mater, Oberlin College, where he competed from 2003-06.
Conlon is also a Level II-certified jumps coach, which is the second highest certification available from USA Track & Field.
