Alumni

Conrad "Connie" Kowal 1974

connieDegree: B.A. Political Science pre-law 1974 at WIU.  Since then, I earned my Master's and Ph. D in "Life Experiences".

Email: ConnieAOK@aol.com

Business Information: I'm so fortunate to have had a 40-year career as a sports front office executive, most notably with the Chicago Cubs and the New Orleans Saints.  Now I do a lot of public speaking, and still do some sports consulting to teams, leagues, schools.  And I'm writing a book on my sports experiences.

Advice for Freshmen: Go to class.  Get good grades. Get involved.  Meet people.  Make friends, create relationships (some will become lifetime friendships and relationships). Embrace and experience new things.  If you are not on a sports team or in a club, join something. Ask for help, seek advice from your instructors, professors, alumni. Be flexible.  Be energetic.  Stay positive.  Have school spirit.  Enjoy the full college experience.

Favorite WIU Memory: So many good ones (then and since).  Topping the list is making the WIU baseball team as a walk-on, and then becoming the starting 3rd Baseman on WIU's greatest baseball team, the 1974 team, which advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament.  For me and my teammates, the fun, the friendships and the success of this team became 'forever'.  And it manifested in 2019 when the 1974 Baseball Team was inducted in the WIU Athletics Hall of Fame. In May of 2024 we gathered at WIU and celebrated our 50th Anniversary Reunion.  Receiving the WIU Alumni Achievement Award in 1992 was an honor for me that crystallized tons of other great memories of classmates, teammates and people I met at WIU.

Family Information/Special Interests and Hobbies: Went to Glenbard West HS in the Chicago western suburb of Glen Ellyn.  Live in the Chicago northern suburb of Libertyville.  Married for 46 years to wife Sally.  One daughter, one son, one grandson.  I coordinate WIU Baseball Alumni communication and WIU Baseball Alumni Reunion Weekends.  Play 100+ rounds of golf a year.  Coach grandson's baseball, soccer, basketball youth sports teams. Use my time and resources volunteering for various civic, school and church efforts, and mentoring those aspiring to work for pro sports teams.