Blake Conley, who led the Union boys basketball team to eight consecutive state tournament appearances, announced he is stepping down after 10 seasons as the Titans’ head coach.
“After prayer and deliberation, I have decided to step down from coaching and spend more time with my two sons, while (they) are young, and with my amazingly supportive wife,” Conley posted on social media Wednesday afternoon.
Conley, 38, came to Union in 2013 after coaching for four seasons at Kingston High School, succeeding Maco Hamilton as coach when Hamilton became the head coach at George Fox University.
Conley led the Titans to their first of eight consecutive state tournament appearances in 2015. In 2017, Conley led Union to the 4A state championship game, falling to Kentwood 81-61.
Union also placed fourth in 2016, third in 2020 and fifth in 2022.
Conley, who also teaches English at Union, leaves with a career record of 283-74 in 14 seasons at Union and Kingston. This past season, Union went 18-6, winning 12 games in a row before a season-ending loss at the Tacoma Dome to Richland in the state round-of-12.
“I would like to thank the Union basketball family for the last 10 years,” Conley said. “The success on the basketball court is eclipsed by the lasting relationships, the memories and the unity that our players have created and sustained. To be part of Union basketball as truly been a dream come true. I’m proud of the young men who have come out of our program, and the men they continue to be after leaving it.”
At the 2022 state tournament, Conley was in constant contact with his wife Christie, who was due to deliver their second son. The birth happened shortly after the Titans concluded their tournament run.
“As Christie and I navigated coaching and having two little ones at home, it was difficult to be away from my two sons during these formative year,” Conley said. He added later “I will miss everything about Union basketball, the players, my outstanding coaching staff, and the community that helped make it great. But I know I will not regret spending these fleeting years with our Sammy and Leo and am excited about the next chapter.”
