With 24 years of coaching experience, Bob Conkling enters his seventh season as head coach at Illinois State. A Rockford Ill., native, Conkling was both an athlete and a coach at the Rockford Gymnastics Academy. He competed in tumbling, diving and trampoline, which became an Olympic sport in 2000. He also competed in the double mini-trampoline. His strengths in tumbling led him to qualify for national and international competitions, such as the World Age Group Championship in Rockford, Ill., and Nationals at Miami (Ohio).
During his time at ISU, Conkling has brought great strides to the gymnastics team. In his seven seasons as head coach, Conkling has secured 72 wins and sent eight student-athletes to the NCAA Regionals. Under Conkling's leadership, two student-athletes have been named MIC Senior of the Year and 17 gymnasts earned spots on the All-Midwest Independent Conference First Team.
A graduate of Indiana Wesleyan (formerly known as Marion College), Conkling received his bachelor's degree in physical education in 1982. Conkling taught swimming and gymnastics at Indiana Wesleyan as a student, while receiving credit for his instruction.
After graduating from Indiana Wesleyan, Conkling coached a gymnastics team in Indiana for two years before returning to Rockford for almost 10 years to coach at the Rockford Gymnastics Academy. Conkling then ventured to Atlanta, Ga., where he worked for Atlanta Legal Copies, a business services company. During his time in Atlanta, Conkling coached a gymnastics team part-time. Approximately 10 years later, Conkling returned to his hometown and the academy to take on the position of program director. He spent three more years there before his arrival at Illinois State in 2005.
