Q&A with new Erie baseball coach Dustin Conley
On Aug. 8, Erie High School announced that it had hired Dustin Conley as its next head baseball coach. Previously coaching at Flatirons Academy, Conley compiled an overall record of 36-4 in three seasons while winning the Class 1A state championship in 2019 and finishing runner-up in 2021.
We caught up with Conley to get his thoughts on the new position.
CHSAANow.com: What drew you to the coaching job at Erie?
Conley: I moved in the area two years ago, and the community support at Erie High school is what first caught my attention. A community like the one around Erie High School is something I wanted to be a part of. During the interview process, I saw the passion from the faculty and parents in the community and it made me feel at home. Then hearing the passion the players had for the program and their drive to become something bigger than just a baseball team is all I needed.
What inspired you to get into coaching?
I think the easiest answer to this is I have been fortunate enough to have grown up playing for some great coaches. Coaches like my father, Tim Spencer, Dave Gallegos, EJ Mapps, Jay Madden, Chris Carrillo and Mike Hutcheon made me grow a passion for coaching. The first time I coached a team, I knew this was something I wanted to do.
Where did you attend high school and what sports did you play?
I attended Pomona High School where I competed in football and baseball.
What is your fondest memory from playing high school sports?
My fondest memory was the community around Pomona High School. When I played for both programs, you felt like you were part of something bigger than a sports team. Growing up in a community like this is what I see the future at Erie being like.
What is the number one thing you’d like your program to be known for across the state and how do you plan to accomplish that goal?
I want the program at Erie to be known as one that is hardworking and classy. I plan on accomplishing this goal by first working with the players to establish a culture centered around class and hard work. Year in and year out we will have new players, but this first group of guys are important in setting the tone for the program.
