The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Special Assistant Jody Conradt
• Conradt among National Sportsmanship Day 20th Anniversary honorees [Feb. 25, 2011]
• Conradt honored with Joe Lapchick Character Award [Nov. 18, 2010]
• Conradt honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by NACWAA [June 4, 2010]
• Conradt to co-chair WBCA ethics committee [Feb. 26, 2010]
• Conradt to be honored with TAHPERD Pathfinder Award [Dec. 3, 2009]
• Conradt selected as 2008 Naismith Outstanding Contributors to Basketball award winners [March 14, 2008]
• Conradt to receive Giant Steps Award from National Consortium for Academics and Sports [Jan. 28, 2008]
• Conradt steps aside from coaching [March 12, 2007]
• Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1998
• Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1999
Jody Conradt was nurtured by the small-town, West Texas values of Goldthwaite (pop. 1,345), where her childhood revolved around community, family, friends and sports.
Her love was basketball. Her aspirations were to teach. Fortunately she is native to a state which takes pride in its passion, independence and can-do attitude. Those traits, along with her graceful, compassionate style, Texas-sharp wit and humor, and desire to bring education and sport opportunities to young women, advanced Conradt into a visionary leader for women's college basketball and women's sports administration.
Conradt's classroom eventually became a 16,000-seat arena at her beloved University of Texas, after serving as coach at Sam Houston State (1969-73) and coach/women's athletics director at UT-Arlington (1973-76). In 38 years as a collegiate head coach, Conradt's players won 900 games – and, more important, 99 percent of them graduated. Speak with her former student-athletes, and they agree on Conradt's life lessons: integrity and team goals above all, self-discipline and organization, embrace diversity and tolerance, commit to honest and effective communication, maintain presence and exhibit class.
Educated at Baylor (B.S., M.S. in physical education), Conradt first was a high school teacher and assistant girls basketball coach under legendary Waco Midway school administrator M.T. Rice. Under Rice, Conradt learned the value of fundamentals. Later, North Carolina's Dean Smith and his Tar Heels' run-and-jump, full-court press inspired her coaching style on the hardwood.
Especially at Texas, Conradt showcased her female student-athletes, their speed and athleticism in a fast-breaking, run-and-shoot attack that lifted her players above the rim. With a full-out style that was unprecedented and unmatched during its time, Conradt led the 1985-86 Longhorns to a 34-0 record and national championship, the NCAA's first perfect season in the sport.
As only the second woman ever inducted into the Springfield, Mass., Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998, Conradt is known as a pioneer, but also a durable, dynamic and ethical leader who gave credibility to her sport during 31 years as head coach with the Longhorns. From 1992-2001, Conradt served UT in a dual role as basketball coach and women's athletics director. She continues to serve the University as a special assistant to women's athletics.
Coaching Career: Basketball
- Sam Houston State University: 74-23 (1969-73)
- The University of Texas at Arlington: 43-39 (1973-76)
- The University of Texas at Austin: 783-245 (1976-2007)
- Overall record: 900-307 (1976-2007)
Coaching Career: Volleyball
- The University of Texas at Austin: 62-38-7 (1976-77)
Athletics Awards
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1998)
- Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Knoxville, Tenn. (1999 inaugural class)
- The University of Texas Women's Athletics Hall of Honor (2000 inaugural class)
- International Women's Sports Hall of Fame, Women's Sports Foundation, New York (1995)
- International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame, Kingston, R.I. (2003)
- The University of Texas-Arlington Athletics Hall of Honor (1987)
- Sam Houston State University Athletics Hall of Fame (2010)
- Texas Association of Basketball Coaches High School Basketball Hall of Fame (1998)
- Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Waco, Texas (1998) and TSHF Southwest Conference Hall of Fame
- Outstanding Contributor to Basketball, Atlanta Tipoff Club (2008)
- United States Sports Academy Distinguished Service Award (2015)
- U.S. Basketball Writers National Coach of the Year (1984)
- Women’s Basketball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year (1980, 1984, 1986)
- John and Nellie Wooden National Coach of the Year (1997)
- National Coach of the Year ESPY Media Vote (2004)
- Big 12 Coach of the Year (2003, 2004)
- Southwest Conference Coach of the Year (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1996)
- Carol Eckmann Award for contributions to women's basketball, Women's Basketball Coaches Association (1987)
- Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) College Coach of the Year
- Inspiring Coach Award, WNBA (2007)
- 100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America, Institute for International Sport, Kingston, R.I. (2007)
- Giant Steps Award, National Consortium for Academics and Sports, Orlando, Fla. (2007)
Civic / Community Awards
- Texas Women's Hall of Fame, Dallas (1986)
- Baylor University Distinguished Alumnus (1989)
- Field Scovell Award, Dallas All-Sports Association (2003)
- Harvey Penick Award for Excellence in the Game of Life, Caritas of Austin (2003)
- CASEY Award for Amateur Sports Excellence, Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation (2004)
- Woman of Distinction Award, Central Texas Girl Scouts (2005)
- UT Dad's Association Honorary Patron Award (1988)
- Neighborhood Longhorns Linking Community With Education Award, Austin (2006)
- Most Worthy Citizen Award, Austin Board of Realtors (2007)
- Bridges Award, The Movement Organization, Austin (2007)
- Commencement Speaker, UT Graduation (2008)
- Legends Honoree, Dallas Texas Exes Chapter Texas-OU Weekend (2008)
- Joe Lapchick Character Award (2010)
- Austin Women's Hall of Fame (2011)
- Texas Exes Distinguished Service Award (2014)
- The First Tee's 9 Core Values Sportsmanship Award (2019)
Current Organizations Served
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Advisory Committee
- NCAA Committee on Infractions
- Austin PGA Dell Match Play Host Committee
- Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders Advisory Council
- UT Neighborhood Longhorns Advisory Council