Marcelo Conklin was announced as Whitehall’s basketball varsity head coach on May 6.
(Photo | Leo Valdez)
By Scott DeCamp
LocalSportsJournal.com
Marcelo Conklin was not raised in Whitehall, but it’s quickly become part of his fabric. He has quite a bit of red, white, and black in his wardrobe and even more reason to add to it now.
Conklin is the new boys varsity basketball coach at Whitehall, taking over the spot vacated when Christian Subdon stepped down following the 2025-26 season.
Conklin, 24, has spent the last five seasons as Whitehall’s boys junior varsity basketball coach.
“I’m just beyond excited and I know the guys are, too,” said Conklin, a 2020 Fruitport alumnus. “I’ve had the opportunity to coach all of them already, so now it’s just another step to prepare and get them ready and then just teach the game the best I can.
“And help them grow as individuals, as players, athletes, and people, you know. Just make sure they’re great human beings and make sure they’re doing well academically.”
In five seasons at the Vikings helm, Subdon’s teams compiled an 85-32 overall record and captured four straight West Michigan Conference titles with one district title during the stretch. None of the Whitehall varsity basketball players under Subdon’s watch lost to arch-rival Montague (12-0).
Subdon, 34, a proud Whitehall alumnus, who took over as the district’s athletic director in 2023, said he stepped away from coaching because he wants to devote more time to his family and AD responsibilities. Christian and Sarah Subdon have been married for almost 10 years and they have two young daughters.
“When I first started as the JV coach, Brighton was born and now I blink and she’s 6, right? I want to be able to give some time to her and my other daughter and my wife. She’s starting to get into coaching a little bit,” Subdon said. “I also feel like with my (AD) job, I’ve got some things to give hopefully to all the sports.”
In total, Subdon spent 14 years coaching basketball. He was a JV coach for nine years, including stints with Whitehall and Hart.
In the 2025-26 season, Whitehall’s boys varsity basketball team finished 11-13 overall, 7-5 in the WMC Lakes Division to tie for third place.
Subdon said that his stepping down as coach had nothing to do with wins or losses.
“I had a lot of fun. I had a lot of good players. I obviously really care about Whitehall and Whitehall basketball. I’ve been a part of it since I was little in one way or another. Even when I was at Hart, I was doing stuff with Whitehall, with Nate (Aardema). I’ve built a lot of relationships. I think it helped me get the job I have today,”
said Subdon, who added that he’s very thankful for the families and players who poured so much into the basketball program.
“I love all of these kids. They’re going to be really successful. I have no doubt they’re going to be fantastic next year (on the basketball court).”
Conklin played basketball and soccer at Fruitport. On the basketball court, he played the guard position.
At Whitehall Middle School, Conklin serves as a special education paraprofessional. He’s also the WMS cross country coach and works as a game manager during Whitehall home football games.
“I just loved playing and growing and getting better (in basketball); building a team and a culture and then turning that into coaching, being able to watch a team grow and each individual player grow … watch the team get better as the games go on. It’s just a fun environment and a fun community to be part of,” Conklin said.
Conklin said he learned much of what he knows as a basketball coach from Subdon.
They tend to even have similar mannerisms on the coaching bench, particularly stomping on the floor in excitement after a good play or sequence.
“I took over (the JV team) at 19 years old, so a lot of everything I know is from (Subdon),” Conklin said. “He’s helped me tremendously. I don’t know there’s enough words to say about how much he’s done to help me be or how I coach today and who I am and what it takes to be a coach.
“When I first stepped in, everybody was super welcoming and even (on Wednesday) as I was announced as getting the job. It’s just been overwhelming with the people that are supportive and just want me to be here and want our program to do well. … I have a great connection with all the staff and all the kids. It’s a great district to be part of. I love going to work every day.”
According to Subdon, Conklin has been a quick study. Subdon said that Conklin observed and picked up things from the beginning, even as a teenager in the JV head-coaching position.
Subdon believes that players and parents are drawn to Conklin. In Subdon’s words, it’s Conklin’s “enthusiasm” and the fact that he’s a “really likable guy.”
“There’s still things he’s going to get to know as we all do when you take over a new spot and there’s more on your shoulders,” Subdon said. “But, like, he’s gotten so much better at it. It’s really incredible if you look at where he was to where he is now.”
LocalSportsJournal.com
Marcelo Conklin was not raised in Whitehall, but it’s quickly become part of his fabric. He has quite a bit of red, white, and black in his wardrobe and even more reason to add to it now.
Conklin is the new boys varsity basketball coach at Whitehall, taking over the spot vacated when Christian Subdon stepped down following the 2025-26 season.
Conklin, 24, has spent the last five seasons as Whitehall’s boys junior varsity basketball coach.
“I’m just beyond excited and I know the guys are, too,” said Conklin, a 2020 Fruitport alumnus. “I’ve had the opportunity to coach all of them already, so now it’s just another step to prepare and get them ready and then just teach the game the best I can.
“And help them grow as individuals, as players, athletes, and people, you know. Just make sure they’re great human beings and make sure they’re doing well academically.”
In five seasons at the Vikings helm, Subdon’s teams compiled an 85-32 overall record and captured four straight West Michigan Conference titles with one district title during the stretch. None of the Whitehall varsity basketball players under Subdon’s watch lost to arch-rival Montague (12-0).
Subdon, 34, a proud Whitehall alumnus, who took over as the district’s athletic director in 2023, said he stepped away from coaching because he wants to devote more time to his family and AD responsibilities. Christian and Sarah Subdon have been married for almost 10 years and they have two young daughters.
“When I first started as the JV coach, Brighton was born and now I blink and she’s 6, right? I want to be able to give some time to her and my other daughter and my wife. She’s starting to get into coaching a little bit,” Subdon said. “I also feel like with my (AD) job, I’ve got some things to give hopefully to all the sports.”
In total, Subdon spent 14 years coaching basketball. He was a JV coach for nine years, including stints with Whitehall and Hart.
In the 2025-26 season, Whitehall’s boys varsity basketball team finished 11-13 overall, 7-5 in the WMC Lakes Division to tie for third place.
Subdon said that his stepping down as coach had nothing to do with wins or losses.
“I had a lot of fun. I had a lot of good players. I obviously really care about Whitehall and Whitehall basketball. I’ve been a part of it since I was little in one way or another. Even when I was at Hart, I was doing stuff with Whitehall, with Nate (Aardema). I’ve built a lot of relationships. I think it helped me get the job I have today,”
said Subdon, who added that he’s very thankful for the families and players who poured so much into the basketball program.
“I love all of these kids. They’re going to be really successful. I have no doubt they’re going to be fantastic next year (on the basketball court).”
Conklin played basketball and soccer at Fruitport. On the basketball court, he played the guard position.
At Whitehall Middle School, Conklin serves as a special education paraprofessional. He’s also the WMS cross country coach and works as a game manager during Whitehall home football games.
“I just loved playing and growing and getting better (in basketball); building a team and a culture and then turning that into coaching, being able to watch a team grow and each individual player grow … watch the team get better as the games go on. It’s just a fun environment and a fun community to be part of,” Conklin said.
Conklin said he learned much of what he knows as a basketball coach from Subdon.
They tend to even have similar mannerisms on the coaching bench, particularly stomping on the floor in excitement after a good play or sequence.
“I took over (the JV team) at 19 years old, so a lot of everything I know is from (Subdon),” Conklin said. “He’s helped me tremendously. I don’t know there’s enough words to say about how much he’s done to help me be or how I coach today and who I am and what it takes to be a coach.
“When I first stepped in, everybody was super welcoming and even (on Wednesday) as I was announced as getting the job. It’s just been overwhelming with the people that are supportive and just want me to be here and want our program to do well. … I have a great connection with all the staff and all the kids. It’s a great district to be part of. I love going to work every day.”
According to Subdon, Conklin has been a quick study. Subdon said that Conklin observed and picked up things from the beginning, even as a teenager in the JV head-coaching position.
Subdon believes that players and parents are drawn to Conklin. In Subdon’s words, it’s Conklin’s “enthusiasm” and the fact that he’s a “really likable guy.”
“There’s still things he’s going to get to know as we all do when you take over a new spot and there’s more on your shoulders,” Subdon said. “But, like, he’s gotten so much better at it. It’s really incredible if you look at where he was to where he is now.”
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