Konkol Accepts Head Hoops Job at LA Tech
In a press conference on Monday morning,, Louisiana Tech Athletics Director Tommy McClelland introduced former University of Miami assistant coach Eric Konkol as the new head coach of Bulldog Basketball.
“I could not be more excited to be the men’s basketball coach at Louisiana Tech University,” Konkol said. “A standard of excellence is growing here at Louisiana Tech. It is a direct result of the collective commitment by past and current administrators, coaches and players. Our goal is to keep pushing forward and continue to challenge for Conference USA championships and trips to the NCAA Tournament. I would like to thank Dr. Guice, Tommy McClelland, the search committee, Dr. Donna Thomas and the athletics council and the entire community of Ruston for welcoming me and my family to Louisiana Tech.”
Konkol goes to Ruston having spent the past four seasons on the Miami staff. Prior to that, he was with Jim Larrañaga for seven years at George Mason and has assisted in all aspects including recruiting, practices, individual player workouts and game preparation.
“Eric Konkol is one of the brightest young coaches in the college game,” said Miami Coach Jim Larrañaga. “His intelligence, energy, enthusiasm and commitment to academics are at the highest level. His knowledge of the game, his ability to recruit outstanding student athletes, and his ability to communicate with those players will make him highly successful as a head coach. The players at Louisiana Tech are going to love this guy, just like our Miami players did.”
The announcement of the 18th head coach in program history comes 11 days after the job became open with former LA Tech coach Michael White accepting the same position at the University of Florida.
“Eric has a national reputation as a great recruiter, a rising star and a coach with a highly intelligent basketball mind,” McClelland said. “We are grateful to have him lead our men’s basketball program. Coach Konkol represents our philosophy of developing champions in the classroom, on the court and in life.”
A native of Amherst, Wis., Konkol is a 2000 graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, with an emphasis in exercise management. He played three seasons of basketball for the Division III program – advancing to the national championship game in 2000. He received the team’s Inspiration Award after his junior and senior seasons with the Blugolds, and was an honorary captain as a senior.
He spent his first two years, including one redshirt season, at the University of Wisconsin at Platteville playing for current Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan who led the Badgers this past season to the NCAA Championship game.
Konkol and his wife Meagan, have two sons, Ethan and Ryan.
