Coach Konek returned to the Merchants bench in 2014 having previously been with the team 1989-1994 and 1998-2002. He also coached baseball at Coupeville High School 1981-87 and softball at Coupeville in 1997-98.

He previously served as President of the Pacific International League from 1992-97 and then again from 2002-10. The National Baseball Congress presented him with the 1999 Hap Dumont Award.

Following high school graduation, he joined the US Army (1965-1968).  He served with the 173d Airborne Brigade (Separate) and the 4th Psychological Group completing two tours in Vietnam.

He has spent countless hours with the US Army veterans of Chapter XVI, National Society of the 173rd Airborne; Chapter 16, US Special Forces Association; veterans of the RSVN 81st Airborne Rangers and RSVN Special Forces of WA, to help raise funds for and awareness of the Vietnam Fund for Education, Music, & Infrastructure Library Project which is a 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to improving the lives of children in Vietnam through the support of education, mentoring program for orphaned girls, school infrastructure, school library and food programs, and traditional music musicians.

He received his Associates Degree from Tacoma Community College in 1970 and a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Washington.

Steve's son, Steve Jr, played baseball at Whitworth College for four seasons and played in the Pacific International League for over ten years with the Everett Merchants and the Seattle Studs participating in the NBC World Series five times.