Tyler Conklin from Eastern Illinois baseball has been named the Panthers 2025-26 Male Athletic Director Award winner as the athletic department completed announcing its end of year awards for this past academic year.
 
Conklin helped pitch the Panthers to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship game for the second straight year as the Panthers finished second in the OVC regular season standings after winning the OVC regular season title last year.   He led the OVC with nine wins during the year pitching this season as the Panthers Friday night starter.  He became the EIU career leader in wins late in the season finishing his EIU career with 26 career wins.  He also ranked in the EIU career top ten for strikeouts (10th / 182), innings pitched (4th / 272.2), starts (2nd / 46) and winning percentage (3rd / .684).  Over his career he earned second team All-OVC honors and was named to the OVC All-Freshman team.  In the classroom he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree with Academic All-District honors.  He was a team leader and active with the baseball team during community service projects. 
 
The Athletic Director Award is presented to a senior student-athlete completing their athletic eligibility following the 2025-26 academic year.  The award is a culmination of their success not only in their sport of competition but also success in the classroom, demonstration of team leadership and active participation in the community through individual or team activities. 

A total of five EIU student-athletes were named candidates for the award with Conklin joined by Michael Atkins (cross country / track & field), Brett Galletti (football), Kooper Jacobi (basketball) and Casey Welage (soccer).
 
Conklin joins Karlie McKenzie from softball as this year's EIU AD Award Winners with McKenzie's award announced yesterday.  Last week Rylan Gick from softball was named this year's EIU Female Newcomer with Mason Miller from football named the EIU Male Newcomer of the Year.  Lizzie Stiverson from softball was this year's EIU Female Athlete of the Year with Bryce Riggs from baseball the EIU Male Athlete of the Year.