Id been thinking about it for a while. Those two or three hours that youre in the gym as a coach, youre actually teaching basketball, just as youd teach any other subject as an educator. Other schools were already starting to have programs and be successful. It was said that she was pregnant and went back to her hometown of Brownfield, near Lubbock, to give birth. Im not so sure thats on their minds now. Darryl Hinton We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I only knew her by reputation, and I have to say that my first couple of meetings with her didnt change my view that she was a pushy Yankee and very unlike the environment that she had been placed in. ES: Im interested to hear you use the phrase student athletes. Youre serious about the academic piece, arent you? Jody is a true role model and trailblazer for women everywhere the first womens hoops coach to reach 700 collegiate victories, lead a team through an undefeated season to a victory at the NCAA national championship, and be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. We won a lot, and people came. Conradt coached college womens basketball for 38 years, beginning her coaching career at Sam Houston State University in 1969, followed by a stint at UT-Arlington before arriving at The University of Texas in the spring of 1976. "I don't think it's a secret. It was all very exhilarating because everything was new. Her first job was teaching and coaching at Waco (Texas) Midway High School. That was 198586, wasnt it? On Tuesday, the campus arena had a different name: Jody Conradt Gymnasium. Her coaching career spanned 38 years, with the last 31 years at UT from 1976 to 2007. Please scroll down to see information about Jody Conradt Social media profiles. "I respect everything about Sheryl, how she's handled herself on and off the court. Your Account; Logout; Login; Create Account; Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. And getting into this relationship has kind of boxed me in, and it's nerve-wracking. Jody Conradt, the powerhouse women's basketball coach at the University of Texas-Austin (UT), has won more college women's basketball games than any other coach in history. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Rebecca Lobo emerged as one of the biggest stars of the fledgling Women's National Basketball Association (WN, Staley, Dawn JC: Thats probably accurate. To me, she will always be one of the greatest ambassadors for the game of women's basketball and as a person has helped me win four (WNBA) championships and two gold medals.". JC: Im sure Ill watch it some. Coming from New York, she was a bit of an odd fit, wasnt she? Jodys income mostly comes from and basic source is being a successful American Athlete. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In 38 years as a collegiate head coach, Conradt's players won 900 games - and, more important, 99 percent of them graduated. VisitWBCA.orgfor more details about the association. On Tuesday, Hermesmeyer was reunited with Smith-Bradley, her Texas teammate from 1993 to 1997. http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/news/S2001/conraddt.html (January 15, 2003). She came to Arlington, and her pitch to me involved cooking. Jody continues to lead and give back to the game through her service on many boards, committeesand projects. And the fact that it's not just me being affected, not just 'Scotty,' you know it's Scotty's family, my family, my friends, basketball fans, Sheryl Swoopes fans. Stephen F. Austin was really good. Jody is a phenomenal celebrity influencer. But Olivia's slogan probably says it the best just 'Be Free.' [6] She then coached at the University of Texas at Arlington from 1973 to 1976, where her teams had a record of 4339. [7] From 1986 to 1991, Texas was the women's basketball attendance leader, including an NCAA record average of 8,481 for one season. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports. [2] Many people growing up in Goldthwaite stayed there, according to Conradt, but she got a sense that one could have larger ambitions when a Goldthwaite native, Marie Reynolds, joined the All American Red Heads Team, a barnstorming basketball team which played throughout the United States and around the world. She singled out Hermesmeyer, a UT point guard from 1993 to 1997 who is in her third season as head coach at Goldthwaite. "I'm just ready, just to be free, not to have to hide who I am; not to have to hide my feelings for her anymore," said Swoopes, nattily attired in blue jeans, a corresponding knit top and navy blue stiletto boots as she sat in a chair at the St. Regis Hotel. Jody Conradt has reached the pinnacle of athletic success and has been honored by multiple halls of fame. "800 wins." We just tried to do the best we could to create an environment for young people to succeed, and we were in the winning business, no question about it. In 38 years as a collegiate head coach, Conradt's student-athletes won 900 games - and, more important, nearly . ." she is one of famous Athlete with the age 80 years old group. When all of those people were invited into the gymor coerced into the gym, as the case might bethe expectations changed. Coming from a very small town, I'm a mama's girl, always been a mama's girl, so I wanted to be closer to home. [10][11] She is only the second woman inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame.[9]. J ody Conradt, the powerhouse women's basketball coach at the University of Texas -Austin (UT), has won more college women's basketball games than any other coach in history. American football player Her coaching career spanned 38 years, with the last 31 years at UT from 1976 to 2007. Babe Didrikson Zaharias was one of the most versatile and talented athletes of all time; there wer, Nikki McCray 1972 Mimi Swartz is a staff writer based in Houston. In an article in the Daily Texan following her 1,000th game, Conradt noted that she never wanted to continue on in the administrative role but to return to what she loved most, coaching young women. Her fingerprints at the University of Texas are as everlasting as the 7-foot-tall bronze . JC: There was a man named Rodney Page who had been the coach as an aside to his job in the physical education department. We thankfully have changed this over the last couple of years, but it used to be that if you really wanted to land a recruit, you had to FedEx her every day. "Conradt, Jody Its been a privilege to stay connected and involved in collegiate athletics and higher education. In 1986, Texas had grown into one of the finest teams in basketball and proved it by winning the NCAA national championship with a record 34-0, the first unbeaten season in NCAA women's history. [4] 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. I told Donna, I want this player. So Donna and I got in her Pacer and drove to Comanche, which is where Leta was coaching at that time. Conradt, 72, averaged 40 points a game in high school and graduated in 1959, long before Congress passed Title IX, the landmark 1972 federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. JC: I laughed when a big deal was made about my nine hundred wins, because I dont think they counted any of those junior college wins early on. ES: Lets talk about how you ended up at UT. Her parents owned a restaurant. The scrapbook also includes newspaper articles, programs, brochures, and postcards from Coach Conradts time coaching the U.S. National Womens Basketball Team during the summer of 1978 in Eastern Europe to prepare them for the ultimately boycotted 1980 Olympics. [3] After high school, Conradt played collegiate basketball at Baylor University, earning a degree in physical education in 1963. (Smiley N. Pool /. Imagine if youre fifteen or sixteen years old and you start to have all these adults following you around the country, watching you play, and eventually writing you every day, texting you or e-mailing you or sending you letters. She is also the first womens basketball coach to lead their team through an undefeated season to a victory at the NCAA national championship. [7], In 38 seasons Conradt's head coaching record was 900306. The WBCA salutes Jody for her lifetime of contributions and is profoundly grateful for her continued commitment to the game.. The one who drew the largest straw would get to drive the bus. "The ayes of Texas are upon her." Jody Conradt is a true role model and trailblazer for leaders and women everywhere. Jody Conradt was inducted in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998 the second women to be so honored; and, she was a member of the inaugural class of inductees into the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. Women's Basketball legend Jody Conradt receives 2021 Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award - University of Texas Athletics Follow Us On Social Name, Image, & Likeness (NIL) Sports Men's Sports Women's Sports Baseball Schedule Roster News Twitter Instagram Tickets YouTube I am grateful to the WBCA and the selection committee for this honor it seems like a lifetime ago that I coached a game, but it was a WONDERFUL life! said Conradt. ES: The big first that everybody talks about is the first undefeated season in the history of NCAA womens basketball. She had come to UT-Arlington, and when I took the job at Texas, she transferred. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and much more. Her historic and highly decorated 38-year career was focused on serving and developing her student-athletes. Jostens is proud to be a longtime supporter of womens basketball and it is our honor to partner with the WBCA on this prestigious award, said Chris Poitras, Jostens Vice President of College and Pro Sports. The year 1987 was a busy one, as Conradt not only received the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Carol Eckman Award, but also managed the US team to a gold medal at the 1987 Pan American Games. 1970- Conradts middle school coach was Ray Akins, a legendary high school football coach, mostly at Gregory-Portland. She starred at Texas from 2003-07 and remains the only . 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). Jody Conradtis a retired women's basketball coach. During her high school career, she was known for her determination and hard work and averaged forty points per game. 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