Manchester University

Nate Conley completed his sixth year as the head men's basketball coach at Manchester University in 2024-25

During his sixth season running the Spartans Men's Basketball program, Conley led the Spartans to another HCAC Tournament bid with a overall record of 10-16 and HCAC record of 5-14. In a season of high expectations where the Spartans were voted #1 in the HCAC preseason coaches' poll, the Spartans got off to a hot start with a 5-1 record for the best start since the 2006-2007 season. The Spartans were riddled with the injury bug but still were able to finish the season strong winning it's last 3 regular season contest to clench the final spot in the HCAC Tournament. Conley had Bryant Smith make 2nd team All-HCAC as well as surpass the 1,500 career point mark this season. Smith graduated with 1,632 career points which places him 7th all-time and made 282 career 3's which ranks 1st in Manchester basketball history. He also had Zach Sawyer cross the 1,000 point mark. Six Spartans were named to the HCAC All-Academic Team.

During his fifth season at the helm of the Men's Basketball Program, Conley led the spartans to a 16-11 overall regular season record, 12-6 HCAC. Conley coached 2nd team All-Region player and Manchester's first HCAC Player of the Year winner since 2011, Zach Sawyer. Sawyer led the league in rpg (9.8), apg (5.4), and spg (2.3) while averaging 18.6 ppg on 48% shooting from the field.  Conley also had two more All HCAC selections in 2023-24 in Bryant Smith and Logan Willoughby. Smith was named 1st Team All HCAC after leading the conference in scoring (20.9) ppg and 3FGM (3.4). The 3.4 3FGM ranked 4th in all of Division III for 2023-24. Willoughby was named HCAC Honorable Mention after averaging 13.4 ppg. After missing 10 games due to injury, he would finish the season strong averaging 17.1 ppg during the month of February. Ty Lynas earned Academic All-HCAC honors, and Zach Sawyer was named to the HCAC All-tournament team.

In his fourth season with the Spartans, Coach Conley led Manchester to a 16-9 regular season record, a 14-4 mark in league play and a share of the conference regular season title for the first time since 2010-11. Sophomore guard/forward Logan Willougby earned All-Conference First Team accolades, while teammates Bryant Smith (Second Team), Zach Sawyer (Second Team), Quentez Columbus (Hon. Mention) also earned All-HCAC recognition. Junior guard Ty Lynas was named to the HCAC All-Tournament team, earned Academic All-HCAC honors, and was also named to the Christopher M. Ragsdale All-Sportsmanship Team. Coach Conley's leadership garnered the recognition of his peers and the title of 2023 HCAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year.

During his third season at the helm of the men's basketball program, the Black & Gold earned seven Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference victories, which included home wins over Transylvania and Rose-Hulman, as well as road wins against Anderson University and 2022 NCAA Division III Tournament participant Franklin College. Under Conley's guidance, the Spartans defeated Transylvania for the first time since 2017 and their win at Anderson was the program's first road win against the Ravens since 2009. Sophomore forward Brandon Christlieb earned Second Team All-HCAC honors after leading the team in scoring at 18.0 ppg. Christlieb also earned HCAC Athlete of the Week recognition on 1/10/2022. First-year sharpshooter Bryant Smith was named the to Christopher M. Ragsdale HCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

In his second season at Manchester, Conley helped guide the Spartans to an appearance in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals. In a season shortened by the Covid-19 Pandemic, Manchester was able to play 14 games.

Coach Conley had a pair of seniors in Cortiz Buckner and CJ Hampton earn Honorable Mention All-HCAC honors in 2021. Freshman forward Brandon Christlieb was named to the HCAC All-Tournament Team. Additionally, freshman guard Jackson Jannsen was named to the Christopher M. Ragsdale HCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

In his first season as head coach in 2019-20, Manchester posted an overall record of 8-17, 6-12 HCAC. Coach Conley would earn his first career coaching victory against Kalamazoo College on November 15, 2019 - a 102-98 overtime triumph against the Hornets. Coach Conley helped the Spartans earn wins over conference powers Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Hanover College first the time since 2017 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, senior guard Keiton Hall earned Academic All-HCAC honors as well as earning a spot on the Christopher M. Ragsdale HCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Conley arrived at Manchester University after serving on Mike DeWitt's coaching staff at Ohio Wesleyan University.  Conley joined the Battling Bishops as an assistant coach in 2013 and was elevated to associate head men's basketball coach in 2016.  During his tenure at OWU, the Battling Bishops produced a record of 119-49 and went 79-29 in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) play.

Conley helped guide Ohio Wesleyan to three NCAC Regular Season Conference titles, including its first conference title in 27 years in 2015.  The Battling Bishops appeared in three straight NCAA Division III Tournaments from 2014-2016 and garnered D3Hoops.com national rankings in five consecutive seasons.  OWU was ranked as high as No. 6 in nation during the 2014-15 season.

Coach Conley helped mentor the 2018 D3Hoops.com National Player of the Year and 2018 Josten's Trophy Winner Nate Axelrod.  The Ohio Wesleyan men's basketball program produced a pair of National Association of Basketball Coaches First Team All-Americans, four NCAC Players the Year, and 10 First Team All-NCAC selections.

Prior to his stint with the Battling Bishops, Conley served as the Graduate Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Defiance College. During his time with the Yellow Jackets, Conley helped mentor three First Team All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference performers and an Honorable Mention All-American.  The Yellow Jackets posted a 42-36, 28-26 HCAC record and qualified for a pair of HCAC Tournaments. 

Conley spent his playing days at Defiance College where he won 77 total games, his playing career is highlighted by the 2007-08 HCAC Regular Season Championship and the 2009-10 HCAC Tournament Championship when Conley started every game his senior year on a 23-6 squad. 

Conley earned both his bachelor and master degrees from Defiance College. Nate and his wife, Chelsea, reside in Fort Wayne with their daughter, Logan, and son, Nash.

* Last Updated - June 17, 2025