Jody Conradt
Encyclopedia
Jody Conradt is a retired women's basketball coach. She was the head coach for the women's team at University of Texas at Austin
(UT). Her coaching career spanned 38 years, with the last 31 years at UT from 1976 to 2007. She also served concurrently as the UT women's athletic director from 1992 to 2001. During her tenure at UT, she achieved several notable personal and team milestones in collegiate basketball. At retirement, she had tallied 900 career victories, second place in all time victories for a NCAA Division I basketball coach.
, Texas
, United States. She was a standout basketball player at Goldthwaite High School (Texas), where she averaged 40 points per game. After high school, she played collegiate basketball at Baylor University
, earning a degree in physical education in 1963. She finished her collegiate basketball career averaging 20 points per game. After graduation, she taught and coached at Waco
Midway High School and earned her master's degree from Baylor in 1969.
from 1969 to 1973 and at the University of Texas at Arlington
from 1973 to 1976.
In 1975, in response to Title IX
, the University of Texas created a separate women's athletic department. In 1976, they hired Donna Lopiano
to become the first woman's athletic director. The following year, Lopiano hired Conradt to become the coach of the woman's basketball team. Conradt had attracted national attention while at the University of Texas at Arlington. After two losing seasons, they went 23–11 in the 1975–76 seasons, upsetting powerful opponents. Texas planned to bring the woman's program to national prominence, and they felt Conradt was the right coach for the job.
In Conradt's first season, the team went 36–10. The team was ranked in the AP top ten in the nation all but one year in the 1980s, including a string of four years 1984–1988, where they earned the number one in the nation ranking. The success translated into fan support—the team was averaging 7,500 fans per game by the end of the 1980s, including such state and national leaders as future governor Ann Richards
and US Congresswoman Barbara Jordan
.
In the 1985 NCAA tournament, the Lady Longhorns lost a heart-breaking game to Western Kentucky 92–90. Watching the game was highly recruited Clarissa Davis
, who had not yet decided where to go to school. She resolved to go to Texas, and help them. The following year, Texas would win the national championship with the first undefeated women's season, with a record of 34–0. Although Davis wasn't a starter on the team, she ended up earning the tournament most valuable player award.
In 38 seasons her head coaching record was 900–306. Her 900 career victories is second on to Pat Summitt
. During her tenure at UT, her record was 783–245. Between January 1978, and January 1990, Conradt's Lady Longhorns did not lose a Southwest Conference game, a streak of 183 consecutive conference victories. From 1986 to 1991, Texas was the women's basketball attendance leader, including an NCAA record average of 8,481 for one season.
Over her career, Conradt has coached:
Conradt was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 and into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. She is only the second woman inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. She was succeeded as UT women's basketball head coach by Gail Goestenkors
, the former women's basketball head coach at Duke University
.
In 2008, Conradt was honored, along with Dick Vitale
, by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, with the Naismith Award, an honor presented annually that "pays tribute to the individuals who have made a significant impact on women’s and men’s college basketball".
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
(UT). Her coaching career spanned 38 years, with the last 31 years at UT from 1976 to 2007. She also served concurrently as the UT women's athletic director from 1992 to 2001. During her tenure at UT, she achieved several notable personal and team milestones in collegiate basketball. At retirement, she had tallied 900 career victories, second place in all time victories for a NCAA Division I basketball coach.
High school and college
She was born in GoldthwaiteGoldthwaite, Texas
Goldthwaite is a small city located in Mills County in Central Texas. The population was 1,802 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mills County, which is named for John T. Mills, a justice of the Supreme Court for the Third, Seventh, and Eighth districts of the former Republic of Texas....
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States. She was a standout basketball player at Goldthwaite High School (Texas), where she averaged 40 points per game. After high school, she played collegiate basketball at Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, earning a degree in physical education in 1963. She finished her collegiate basketball career averaging 20 points per game. After graduation, she taught and coached at Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
Midway High School and earned her master's degree from Baylor in 1969.
College coaching
Prior to her career at UT she served as women's basketball head coach at Sam Houston State UniversitySam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
from 1969 to 1973 and at the University of Texas at Arlington
University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public research university located in Arlington, Texas, United States. The campus is situated southwest of downtown Arlington, and is located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. The university was founded in 1895 and served primarily a military...
from 1973 to 1976.
In 1975, in response to Title IX
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a United States law, enacted on June 23, 1972, that amended Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2002 it was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in honor of its principal author Congresswoman Mink, but is most...
, the University of Texas created a separate women's athletic department. In 1976, they hired Donna Lopiano
Donna Lopiano
Dr. Donna Lopiano is the President and founder of Sports Management Resources, a consulting firm that focuses on bringing the knowledge of experienced, expert former athletics directors to assist scholastic and collegiate athletics departments in solving growth and development challenges.Lopiano...
to become the first woman's athletic director. The following year, Lopiano hired Conradt to become the coach of the woman's basketball team. Conradt had attracted national attention while at the University of Texas at Arlington. After two losing seasons, they went 23–11 in the 1975–76 seasons, upsetting powerful opponents. Texas planned to bring the woman's program to national prominence, and they felt Conradt was the right coach for the job.
In Conradt's first season, the team went 36–10. The team was ranked in the AP top ten in the nation all but one year in the 1980s, including a string of four years 1984–1988, where they earned the number one in the nation ranking. The success translated into fan support—the team was averaging 7,500 fans per game by the end of the 1980s, including such state and national leaders as future governor Ann Richards
Ann Richards
Dorothy Ann Willis Richards was an American politician from Texas. She first came to national attention as the state treasurer of Texas, when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention. Richards served as the 45th Governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995 and was...
and US Congresswoman Barbara Jordan
Barbara Jordan
Barbara Charline Jordan was an American politician who was both a product and a leader, of the Civil Rights movement. She was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction and the first southern black female elected to the United States House of Representatives...
.
In the 1985 NCAA tournament, the Lady Longhorns lost a heart-breaking game to Western Kentucky 92–90. Watching the game was highly recruited Clarissa Davis
Clarissa Davis
Clarissa Davis is former Texas women's basketball All-American, who is also known as Clarissa Davis-Wrightsil. She is a National Player of the Year, Olympic and pro standout, and was inducted into The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in April 2006...
, who had not yet decided where to go to school. She resolved to go to Texas, and help them. The following year, Texas would win the national championship with the first undefeated women's season, with a record of 34–0. Although Davis wasn't a starter on the team, she ended up earning the tournament most valuable player award.
In 38 seasons her head coaching record was 900–306. Her 900 career victories is second on to Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt
Patricia "Pat" Head Summitt is an American women's college basketball coach. She is currently the head coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team. She is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history of either a men's or women's team in any division...
. During her tenure at UT, her record was 783–245. Between January 1978, and January 1990, Conradt's Lady Longhorns did not lose a Southwest Conference game, a streak of 183 consecutive conference victories. From 1986 to 1991, Texas was the women's basketball attendance leader, including an NCAA record average of 8,481 for one season.
Over her career, Conradt has coached:
- 28 players who went on to play professionally
- four US Olympians
- three players who earned a combined 13 national player of the year honors
- eight Kodak All-Americans
Conradt was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 and into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. She is only the second woman inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame. She was succeeded as UT women's basketball head coach by Gail Goestenkors
Gail Goestenkors
Gail Ann Goestenkors , is the women's basketball head coach for The University of Texas, having accepted the position on April 3, 2007, replacing the legendary Jody Conradt. Goestenkors was the Duke University women's basketball head coach from 1992–2007...
, the former women's basketball head coach at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
.
In 2008, Conradt was honored, along with Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale
Richard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
, by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, with the Naismith Award, an honor presented annually that "pays tribute to the individuals who have made a significant impact on women’s and men’s college basketball".
Awards and honors
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
- International Women's Sports Hall of Fame
- International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame
- Texas Women's Hall of Fame
- Texas Sports Hall of Fame
- UT Women's Athletics Hall of Honor
- Carol Eckman Award - Women's Basketball Coaches Association (1987)
- Outstanding Commitment to Women's Athletics - National Association for Girls and Women in Sports (1991)
- Harvey Penick Award for Excellence in the Game of Life - Caritas of Austin (2003)
- CASEY Award - Kansas City Sports Association (2004)
- Conference Coach of the Year - 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1996, 2003, 2004
- National Coach of the Year - 1980, 1984, 1986, 1997, 2003, 2004
- Lifetime Achievement Award - 2010 by National Association Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA)
Milestones
- First women's basketball collegiate coach to reach 700 career victories
- Coached first NCAA Division I women's basketball team to an undefeated season and an NCAA National Championship (1986)
- First active women's basketball collegiate coach (and second overall after trophy namesake Margaret WadeMargaret Wade (basketball coach)Lily Margaret Wade was an American basketball player and coach. She played high school basketball for Cleveland High School and college basketball for Delta State University in 1930-1932. The women's basketball program was discontinued at that college after she graduated...
) to be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - 99% graduation rate for the individuals on her teams