The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Head Coach
• 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 (population1,822), 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 multipurpose arena at her beloved University of Texas, after serving as women's basketball 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 student-athletes won 900 games – and, more important, nearly every one of them graduated. Speak with her former student-athletes, and they agree on Conradt's life lessons: integrity and team goals above all, practice self-discipline and be organized, embrace diversity and tolerance, commit to honest and effective communication, maintain presence and exhibit class.
Educated at Baylor Univerdity (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 student-athletes, their speed and athleticism in a fast-breaking, run-and-shoot attack that lifted her teams to enormous popularity. 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. Crowds exceeded 8,000 fans per game average in the late 1980s.
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 women’s collegiate basketball during 31 years as head coach with the Longhorns. From 1992-2001, Conradt also served UT in a dual role as basketball coach and women's athletics director. Since her retirement from coaching following the 2006-07 season, she has continued to serve the University as a special assistant in Texas 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)
- National Coach of the Year (1979-80, 1985-86, 1996-97, 2003-04)
- Carol Eckmann Award for contributions to women's basketball, Women's Basketball Coaches Association (1987)
- The University of Texas-Arlington Athletics Hall of Honor (1987)
- 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)
- Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Waco, Texas (1998)
- Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Knoxville, Tenn. (1999 inaugural class)
- International Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame, Kingston, R.I. (2003)
- 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)
- Outstanding Contributor to Basketball, Atlanta Tipoff Club (2008)
- Sam Houston State University Athletics Hall of Fame (2010)
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, Kansas City Sports Association (2004)
- Woman of Distinction Award, Central Texas Girl Scouts (2005)
- 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)
JODY CONRADT OPPORTUNITY INITIATIVE
Jody Conradt Excellence Fund
Established by the College of Liberal Arts and the Center for Women and Gender Studies, this fund is used primarily to support the "Inspire" program. Inspire features a curriculum created to develop leadership, talent and capabilities among undergraduate women at UT.
- Scholarships
- Foster innovative curriculum
- Experiential training
- Distinguished speaker series, internships
Jody Conradt Project for Women's Health and Wellness Research
Through the College of Education, this project reflects issues that affect women locally, nationally and globally, and its focus is to improve the lives of women and adolescent girls in underserved communities. Currently, it features two key components:
- Health and wellness research at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders
- Diabetes management research
Jody Conradt Opportunity Fund
Providing financial support to student-athletes pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees after their eligibility has expired, this fund exists to assist those who are determined to succeed academically.
- Post-eligibility scholarships
- Graduate education fellowships
- Community service stipends
- Internship grants
For more information on how to contribute to Conradt's legacy, please contact:
Joe Youngblood
Director of Development, Strategic Initiatives
University Development Office
(512) 475-7085
jbyoungblood@austin.utexas.edu
