Hinsdale South’s Conyer steps down

Hinsdale South enjoyed a revival on the baseball diamond this spring, but coach Kraig Conyer has decided to try a different venue for next season.

Conyer will not return as baseball coach for next season and has accepted a new position as an assistant to first-year football coach Mike Barry, who has made the move from Evergreen Park.

“I was a football coach first for six years, but I have not coached in the last four years,” Conyer said. “I will remain as the boys bowling coach.”

The Hornets (18-15) lost their last five games of the season and were knocked out of the Class 4A playoffs in their first game against Benet, losing 12-0 in five innings. Hinsdale South finished a surprising second in the West Suburban Gold with a 13-5 record after winning only nine games in 2010.

“There is no doubt I’ll miss it. I love baseball and I’ve always been involved with it,” Conyer said. “I feel like I would cheat the kids. It’s tough to coach [three sports].”

Conyer coached the varsity for the last six years and spent 10 years in the program. The invitation to return to football was one that Conyer could not pass up.

“It’s great. I’m looking forward to [football season], I’m especially excited to coach with coach Barry,” Conyer said.

Conyer’s last baseball game was May 28, but he did not decide to resign until May 31. Assistant coach Paul Hoel will coach the Hornets’ summer league baseball team. The second week of Hinsdale South’s summer league season begins with a doubleheader at home at 1 p.m. Monday, June 20, against York. The Hornets play a doubleheader at Neuqua Valley at 3 p.m. June 21 and then host Leyden at 3 p.m. June 22.

Conyer is one of three Hinsdale South spring coaches to resign at the end of the school year, along with boys tennis coach Kurt Vonnahme and boys water polo coach Rick Townsend.

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