Jim Conley 2016

Administrator /Coach / Contributor / Official

Newfane Central Schools

Conley James “Jim” Conley was born in Lockport, NY.  He is a 1962 graduate of Lockport High School, a 1968 graduate of the University of Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, and subsequently earned a master’s degree in Education Administration from Canisius College.  

In 1968, Jim started his career at Wilson High School as the junior varsity football and junior varsity baseball coach.  He then coached for Newfane High School— varsity football (assistant, 1969-1975), varsity football (1976-1985), tennis (1979-1981), and varsity baseball (1982-2007).  From 1985 to 1996 he coached in the Lockport midget league.  Jim served as the coaching coordinator for the Lockport Little League from 2003 to 2008.  From 2008 to 2011 he was the assistant baseball coach for Erie Community College.  And in 2012, he became the assistant baseball coach for Lockport, a position that he holds to this day.

Over the years, his teams acquired a number of championships including runner-up status in football Class B sectionals (Newfane, 1978), baseball Class B sectional and regional champions (Newfane, 2004), and Niagara Orleans League baseball champions (2007). 

In 1985, Jim was named the athletic director of Newfane Central School and he served in that capacity for 19 years until his retirement in 2003.  In 1998, he was named the executive secretary and assigning agent for the Niagara Orleans League.  He served in this position for 24 years until he stepped down in 2011.  Jim served Section VI in a number of    different capacities.  He served as the Niagara Orleans alternate representative to the Athletic Council, member of the    negotiating committee for the Western New York Sports Officials (WNYSO) contract, and current Baseball Committee member (15 years) and chairman (5 years). 

Jim was honored with the Niagara Orleans League Foundation Award (2004), the Section VI Distinguished Sportsmanship Award (2006), the NYSAAA Distinguished Service to Athletics Award (2012), and the Niagara PAL Award for Outstanding Service as an Athletic Director/Coach at Newfane Central Schools (2005).

Jim has been a member of the  New York State Administrators Athletic Association (NYSAAA), the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), and the Niagara Frontier Wrestling Officials Association (NFWOA).  Jim officiated many sectional matches and wrestling tournaments during his 32 years with the NFWOA.  He was the original chairman of the NFWOA Wrestling Tournament at Niagara Community College, which continues annually.  He was awarded the NFWOA Contributor Award in 2000 and he was given an NFWOA Honorary Lifetime Membership in 2005.  

Jim currently works for the Niagara-Orleans BOCES as their Coaching Coordinator.  He resides in Lockport, NY with his wife Maureen.  They have three daughters, Paula Marie Ganyard, Krista Anne Conley, Jamie Rae Conley, and a son, Brian C. Conley.