The Citadel Head Basketball Coach Ed Conroy has announced the completion of his inaugural staff with four hires: Assistant Coaches Chris Hill and Patrick Reilingh, Director of Basketball Operations Austin Kidd, and Graduate Manager Hunt Conroy.
“I am very excited about the additions to our Citadel basketball staff. We have an accomplished staff of great teachers, great mentors, and winners at the highest levels of basketball. We will strive to be the premiere program in the country when it comes to overall player development. We want to be the blueprint that other programs model. Our staff will consistently bring great energy and a positive attitude, and will be terrific representatives of and additions to the Citadel community. This staff has worked in winning programs at the highest levels, including the Big 10, ACC, SEC, Big East, American, CUSA, WAC, ASUN, Colonial, and SOCON.” – Ed Conroy
A native of Chicago, Ill., Chris Hill comes to the Bulldogs bench with a versatile basketball background, stemming from his collegiate playing career at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. A point guard for the Panthers from 2001-06 under two longtime coaches Bruce Pearl (Auburn) from 2001-05 and Rob Jeter (Western Illinois) in 2005-06. Hill helped captured 108 wins, one NIT berth, and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2004-05 where they toppled Alabama and Boston College in the opening rounds in a 26-win season. The program also celebrated a 26-game home win streak between 2004 and 2006.
Following a professional career in Europe from 2006-10, Hill joined the University of Tennessee as a graduate assistant for the 2010-11 season. The Volunteers reached the second round of the SEC Tournament and a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Hill returned to his alma mater and former coach Jeter for 2011-12 as the team’s academic advisor. He served as video coordinator for the next two seasons before becoming Director of Basketball Operations in 2014-15 and assistant coach in 2015-16.
His time on the Panthers bench produced three 20-win seasons, including a 21-win campaign in 2013-14 en route to the Horizon League Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. Their 13-game improvement was the best in the nation. In 2011-12, Milwaukee received a bid to the 2012 College Basketball Insider Tournament following 20 wins. His final season in 2015-16 saw Milwaukee again amass 20 wins and a school-first win against the University of Wisconsin.
Hill served for three years as a student services advocate teacher in the Shorewood School District and as head varsity boys basketball coach at Shorewood High School from 2016-19. He returned to the college ranks as an assistant coach alongside multiple national championship winning coach Pat Miller with NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for two seasons and his most recent stop as an assistant at NCAA Division II University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Chris is married to the former Katie Vancura and the couple has three daughters, Mia, Hayden, and Ryann.
“I am honored to have this opportunity to teach and learn here at The Citadel under Ed’s leadership. Knowing the job, he’s done here in Charleston at this storied University as a player and coach. I’m looking forward to being a part of this program future growth.” – Chris Hill
“I had a lot of boxes that I wanted to check when building this staff. I was looking for a strong all-around coach with a focus on player development, academics, recruiting ties and the ability to build relationships with our team. Chris has done all those things on many different levels while valuing winning the right way. I’m extremely excited to have Chris and his family apart of The Citadel.” – Ed Conroy
Coaching Career
2021-2022 • University of Wisconsin-Parkside • Assistant Coach
2019-2021 • University of Wisconsin-Whitewater • Assistant coach
2016-2019 • Shorewood High School • Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach
2015-2016 • University of Wisconsin Milwaukee • Assistant Coach
2014-2015 • University of Wisconsin Milwaukee • Director of Basketball Operations
2012-2014 • University of Wisconsin Milwaukee • Video Coordinator
2011-2012 • University of Wisconsin Milwaukee • Academic Advisor
2010-2011 • University of Tennessee • Graduate Assistant
Reilingh has worked alongside Coach Conroy at their previous two stops in Minnesota and Vanderbilt. He holds the distinction of working under both Rick Pitino and son Richard Pitino. Reilingh attended the University of Louisville, serving on the elder Pitino’s staff as the basketball team’s student manager while earning his Bachelor’s in Sport Administration in 2014 and later his Master’s in the same field in 2016. He stayed on as the Cardinals’ assistant video coordinator and Director of Video Operations from 2016 to 2018 before joining La Salle University as its video coordinator during the 2018-19 season.
His next stop was at the University of Minnesota under Richard Pitino, serving as Recruiting Coordinator for two seasons. It was here that he met Ed Conroy while he was Associate Head Coach. He oversaw the recruitment of several notable acquisitions, including current Gophers Isaiah Ihnen and Treyton Thompson, and consensus four-star prospect Jamal Mashburn Jr., son of NBA great Jamal Mashburn. Reilingh’s time there featured center Daniel Oturu leading the Big Ten in rebounds in 2019-20 and earning the Gophers’ first All-America nod in 21 years via Sporting News. In 2020-21, guard Marcus Carr was chosen to the AP All-Big Ten First Team after ranking third in the league in scoring and assists.
He followed Conroy to Vanderbilt University on Jerry Stackhouse’s staff as the Video Coordinator for the 2021-22 season, where he was responsible for organizing team and opponent film, scouting assistance, and creating and producing recruiting content. The Commodores reached the SEC Quarterfinals and NIT Quarterfinals in their first postseason appearance in five years. Point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. led the SEC in scoring, earned his second All-SEC First Team selection, while receiving honors to the Lute Olson All-America team and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association State Player of the Year.
Reilingh hails from Pleasantville, N.Y. and was a three-sport athlete at Pleasantville High School in basketball, football, and baseball.
“It is a great opportunity to be joining Coach Conroy as he returns to his alma mater. I have had the pleasure of working with Coach the past three seasons and seen up close his ability to teach and motivate student-athletes with his knowledge and passion for the game. The Citadel and the Charleston community mean so much to Coach Conroy and I am excited join him. I am ready to get to work with our cadet student-athletes as we look to write an exciting chapter in this program’s history. I want to thank Coach Conroy, Mike Capaccio and General Walters for this opportunity to join The Citadel Basketball program.” – Patrick Reilingh
“Patrick has been taught by some of the best teachers in the game including Rick Pitino, Richard Pitino and Jerry Stackhouse. He has experienced player development and winning at a high level and knows what it takes for student-athletes to be successful on and off the court. Working with Patrick the past three seasons I have seen his dedication and passion for the game and know he will be a great asset in mentoring and developing our cadet student-athletes.” – Ed Conroy
Career
Vanderbilt University • 2021-22 • Video Coordinator
University of Minnesota • 2019-21 • Recruiting Coordinator
La Salle University • 2018-19 • Video Coordinator
University of Louisville • 2016-18 • Assistant Video Coordinator, Director of Video Operations
Kidd, a Kentucky native, is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. He served on Hall-of-Fame Coach John Calipari’s staff as a Graduate Assistant from 2017-19, where 12 former players are currently in the NBA. In his first year the Wildcats won 29 games and the 2018 SEC Championship, while advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16. In 2018-19 UK posted 30 wins and reached the NCAA Elite Eight. He earned his Master’s in Sport Leadership in 2019.
He spent the last three seasons as the Director of Basketball Operations and Video Coordinator at Florida Gulf Coast University. The Eagles posted their first road win against a Power 5 opponent in school history at Miami on Dec. 12, 2020. In 2021-22 they set the third-highest win total in program history with 22 wins and set the school record for most non-conference wins with 10. They earned their first postseason bid in four years competing in The Basketball Classic, advancing all the way to the quarterfinals. Kidd initiated a partnership with Team Impact, an organization matching children facing serious illness with college sports teams.
Kidd began his collegiate basketball career as an assistant coach at Transylvania University (NCAA D-III) in Lexington, KY from 2014 to 2017. Kidd served under Brian Lane, a former NC State assistant under Les Robinson. His final season there produced 17 wins and the Pioneers advancing to the HCAC Semifinals.
Kidd is married to the former Hillary Ison. Outside of basketball he is involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“It’s an exciting time to be a Bulldog! I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Coach Conroy, his staff, and our cadet-athletes. There are few places in the world with as much pride and passion as the Citadel, and Coach Conroy is the epitome of that. I am excited to be a small part of this program as we pursue a championship standard together.” -Austin Kidd
“We are excited to have Austin join our staff from Florida Gulf Coast University, a program with a winning culture and championship expectations. He has a wide array of experience, including the University of Kentucky where he worked with a dozen current NBA players and competed for championships at the highest level. He also has worked with Brian Lane [Transylvania University Head Coach]; a former assistant to Coach Les Robinson at North Carolina State University, who is someone I have a tremendous amount of respect for both as a coach and a person.” – Ed Conroy
Career
2019-2022 • Florida Gulf Coast University • Director of Operations/Video Coordinator
2017-2019 • University of Kentucky • Graduate Assistant
2014-2017 • Transylvania University • Assistant Coach
Conroy was a four-year letter winner at the University of Minnesota from 2017 to 2021 under head coach Richard Pitino. A three-year walk on, he received a scholarship his senior year and was a three-time Academic All Big 10. The Gophers reached the 2019 NCAA Division I Tournament, posting a first-round win over Louisville. During his time at Minnesota, Conroy played under Ben Johnson (current Head Coach Minnesota), Kimani Young (current Associate Head Coach – UCONN) and Rob Jeter (current Head Coach – Western Illinois). He also played alongside several notable players at Minnesota, including: Amir Coffey (Clippers), Daniel Oturu (32nd overall Draft Pick), Jordan Murphy (2nd in Rebounds in Big Ten History), Marcus Carr (current PG at the University of Texas). His career at Minnesota concluded with Conroy receiving his Bachelor’s in Business and Marketing Education and Master’s in Youth Development Leadership.
He moved on to Jerry Stackhouse’s staff at Vanderbilt University as a Graduate Assistant for the 2021-22 season, where the Commodores reached the SEC Quarterfinals and NIT Quarterfinals in their first postseason appearance in five years. His one season there coincided with the emergence of Scotty Pippen Jr., who led the SEC in scoring, earned his second All-SEC First Team selection, while receiving honors to the Lute Olson All-America team and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association State Player of the Year. Conroy earned his Master’s in Human Development Studies.
Conroy is enrolled in the Leadership in Higher Education program at The Citadel. He is the son of head coach Ed Conroy and his brother Riley is an assistant coach at Southeastern Louisiana. His basketball family extends to his uncle Duffy Conroy – assistant coach at Tulsa, uncle Matt Devlin – play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Raptors, cousin Liam Robbins – center at Vanderbilt, cousin Declan Robbins – manager at Lipscomb University, cousin Jack Devlin – Iowa basketball. Additionally, his cousin Luke Devlin was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2022 NHL Draft. Conroy has been active on the basketball camp scene with experiences at The College Basketball Academy and with The UAA Circuit.
“Hunt will provide great value as he was a player for us at Minnesota for 4 years as well as on staff at Vanderbilt this past season. He is a terrific addition to our staff and has a very bright future in coaching. He has already shown a unique ability to communicate and teach the game efficiently and effectively with elite players. He also brings the knowledge of our system with perspective of both a player and a coach.” – Ed Conroy
