General | 5/12/2020 4:11:00 PM

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - With a heavy heart, the Bloomsburg University Department of Athletics was saddened to learn of the passing of former men's and women's cross country and track and field coach Lanny Conner. Conner passed away over the weekend at the age of 70.
 
"My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Lanny Conner," Dr. Michael McFarland, Director of Athletics, said. "He made a mark and shaped so many individuals during his time coaching the men's and women's programs at Bloomsburg University. He was truly a remarkable man, an amazing coach, and everyone felt his kindness."
 
Conner coached the men's programs from 1987-97, with the men's cross country team finishing in the top-five at the regional meet in 1992 and 1993. The 1993 squad is the program's most successful, placing third at regionals before finishing 14th at nationals — each marking a team-best. That season, the Huskies also placed third at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships. Bloomsburg had three individuals finish in the top 13 at PSACs (Dan Pszeniczny (5th), Bill Hurst (12th), and Chris Konyar (13th)) and then had four earn top 23 finishes at regionals (Pszeniczny (9th), Konyar (16th), Hurst (18th), and Tim Thomas (23rd)). Pszeniczny went on to place a team-best 28th at nationals.
 
After six years as men's coach, Conner took on an additional role as women's coach and coached the women's programs from 1993-97. His most successful season on the women's side came in 1997 as the Huskies placed fifth at the PSAC meet and fourth in the regional meet. Under Conner's tutelage, Tina (Wikoski) Bartholomew and Michelle Wolyniec enjoyed Hall of Fame careers. (Wikoski) Bartholomew finished in the top five at both PSACs and regionals in 1993 and 1994, and Wolyniec earned a top ten finish at the 1996 PSAC Championship and, later, placed 13th at regionals that same season. (Wikoski) Bartholomew was inducted into the BU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014, and Wolyniec was part of the 2017 class.
 
Following his stint at Bloomsburg, Conner turned his attention to Southern Columbia, coaching the Tigers for 20 years. According to the News-Item, Conner had an overall record of 122-30-3. He oversaw 28 individual District 4 champions, 95 state qualifiers, 36 state medalists (two being state champions), and 13 new school records.
 
He ended his tenure at Southern with the Tigers placing third in the team standings at the Class 2A state meet in 2019.
 
A three-year runner at Berwick High School, Conner helped the Bulldogs claim the 1967 District 4 track and field title his senior season. He then went on to have a stellar collegiate career at Greenville College in Illinois. While competing for the Panthers, Conner was a three-time national meet qualifier and conference champion in cross country. He was also a conference champion in the mile run in track and field — an event in which he once held the school record.
 
He was inducted into both Berwick's and Greenville's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
 
Upon graduation from Greenville, Conner returned to Berwick to lead the Bulldogs. Following his stint at Berwick, Conner ended up at the collegiate level as he took over the men's – and eventually women's – programs at Bloomsburg.
 
"With the passing of Lanny Conner, the running community, the BU family, and most importantly, his surviving family lost a great man," said Bloomsburg University's current head cross country and track and field coach, Bernie Empie. "He cared for his student-athletes and encouraged and pushed them to believe and achieve more. My deepest condolences go out to his friends and family for their loss. We look forward to celebrating his contributions to Bloomsburg, our BUXCTF family, and all the lives he touched when circumstances allow."