Tyler Conklin, a senior pitcher from Eastern Illinois University, has been selected as the 2025-26 Male Athletic Director Award recipient, the school announced this week.
A Season of Excellence
Conklin anchored the Panthers' rotation, guiding the club to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship game for the second consecutive year. He finished the season atop the OVC with nine victories, and his 26 career wins place him first in program history. His 182 strikeouts, 272.2 innings pitched and 46 starts also rank among the top ten in EIU annals, underscoring a level of durability and consistency rarely seen in collegiate baseball.
Beyond the mound, Conklin excelled in the classroom, earning both a bachelor's and a master's degree with Academic All-District honors. He was also a team leader who regularly volunteered in local community projects, embodying the award's emphasis on leadership and service.
Recognition Across the Board
The award, given to a senior student-athlete who completes eligibility in the 2025-26 academic year, highlights success in competition, scholarship, teamwork and community engagement. Conklin joins former softball standout Karlie McKenzie as this year's EIU AD Award winners, while other notable honorees include Rylan Gick (softball) as Female Newcomer, Mason Miller (football) as Male Newcomer, Lizzie Stiverson (softball) as Female Athlete of the Year and Bryce Riggs (baseball) as Male Athlete of the Year.
Five EIU athletes — Conklin, Michael Atkins (cross country/track), Brett Galletti (football), Kooper Jacobi (basketball) and Casey Welage (soccer) — were named candidates for the honor, reflecting the broad spectrum of talent across the university's programs.