When you grew up in a small town, you only saw women doing one of two things, Conradt says. ATLANTA (March 10, 2021) Legendary hall of famer Jody Conradt is the recipient of the 2021 Jostens-Berenson Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her Later, North Carolina's Dean Smith and his Tar Heels' run-and-jump, full-court press inspired her coaching style on the hardwood. It's about the University of Texas doing the right thing and showing to the world how much they value the role of women's athletics," Conradt said. 8 ejected after UK-Florida scuffle at SEC tourney, Auriemma critical of 'selfish' Huskies after finale, New NCAA president readies for NIL, legal issues, S. Carolina stays No. There were no scholarships in which to induce and reward them, unlike for their male counterparts. Rice. They reached the Final Four the following season, but then not again until 2003. Her first college head coaching job was overseeing basketball and volleyball at Sam Houston State from 1969 to 1973. 1 as 15 ranked teams lose, TCU coach Pebley to step down at end of season, Iowa's Clark hits 3 at buzzer to beat No. 1 as 15 ranked teams lose, TCU coach Pebley to step down at end of season, Iowa's Clark hits 3 at buzzer to beat No. As only the second woman ever inducted into the Springfield, Mass. Texas unveils statue to honor coach Conradt. He could not remember the last time hes seen a Texas basketball game. Gracious and dynamic as ever at age 81, Conradt on this day has come to UTs gleaming Frank Denius Family Athletics Hall of Fame to discuss the 50th anniversary of the civil rights law that changed her life and those of millions of other American women. And if our two good teams played one another, more people would pay attention. More than two dozen of Conradts former players have gone on to play professionally. We would commit to playing each other every year, alternating the games between Austin and Knoxville, Tenn. Lopianos other first-month lesson spoke to the almighty power of football at Texas. She had traveled the world for a decade as a star softball player, earned a Ph.D. at USC and had been a multi-sport coach and assistant AD at Brooklyn College. Fortunately, she is native to a state which takes pride in its passion, independence and can-do attitude. Page said the most influential figure during his time at Texas was the late Betty Thompson, a pioneer in womens athletics. The attorney called back: Would you come to D.C. to testify about the Tower Amendment?, Lopiano: Why, yes, my mother and father will be very proud.. On the morning she was to depart for Washington, D.C., Lopiano got a phone call from second-year UT President Lorene Rogers, the first and still only female president in the schools history. She was willing to give an opportunity to a young man of color. If something like that ever happened, he never let us know about it, she said. Two days after his removal, Conradt was hired by Lopiano. Speak with her former student-athletes, and they agree on Conradts life lessons: hold integrity and team goals above all, work on self-discipline and organization, embrace diversity and tolerance, commit to honest and effective communication, maintain presence and exhibit class. 2023 www.statesman.com. As we sat there on that beautiful day in the fall, I remember thinking how fitting it was that we were sitting in a setting much like the one from 30 years before, talking about the game we loved, how much it had grown, and how fortunate we were to be a part of something special. Even then, I knew. Ford had met in the White House with a concerned Royal, Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler and Arkansas coach Frank Broyles. 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Idyllic though her upbringing had been in Goldthwaite, where her father, Charles, played semi-pro baseball and mother, Ann, played softball, Addie Jo was certain her life in organized sports ended with her 40-points-per-game high school career in six-player half-court basketball. WebJody Conradts childhood revolved around community, family, friends and sports in the small West Texas town of Goldthwaite. Heres what you need to know. Conradt honored with Joe Lapchick Character Award [Nov. 18, 2010] When a young person remains in touch with you long after their last season of eligibility or graduation, that is the most meaningful measurable result. It all started with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, Page said last week from his home in North Austin. Numerous other colleges monitored what happened in Austin and followed Texas lead. Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 1998 No one is more proud of those facts than Goldthwaites Addie Jo Conradt, whose 7-foot bronze statue appropriately stands in the UT athletics Hall of Fame next to, and just as tall, as that of Darrell K Royal. Page lived in a one-bedroom off-campus apartment and walked to work. 1 most stressful city for workers in U.S. Houston rap royalty Bun B on returning to Rodeo for another Takeover, Turner: State takeover of Houston ISD could happen as soon as next week, 'Call me a Nazi': Former Houston-area pastor calls for state book ban. Educated at Baylor Univerdity (B.S., M.S. Conradt was elected to basketball Hall of Fame in 1988. Or that in her 31 seasons at Texas, her teams aggregate graduation rate would be 99%. Then the coaches at Tennessee and Texas, Pat Summitt, left, and Jody Conradt alternated annual games between home courts starting in 1982 in a successful attempt to expand the popularity of women's basketball. Women's Power Rankings: Pac-12 teams, Maryland show their teeth, SCNext Top 25: Ranking the best high school girls' basketball teams in the 2022-23 season. No, Im just going to tell you how to keep your job.. She is currently a special assistant in the UT athletic department. So the next question was, Whos the best coach in Texas? ". I was part of the grounds crew, a grass-roots effort that I hope no one ever minimizes, he said. Grizzlies 113, Rockets 99: 2nd-half flurry extends Houston's skid, Texas A&M's SEC title hopes quashed by Alabama's win over Auburn. It was also said that Swoopes asked Texas coach Jody Conradt for a transfer because she had been inappropriately approached sexually by a female Since her retirement from coaching following the 2006-07 season, shehascontinuedto serve the University as a special assistantinTexas Athletics. Fortunately she is native to a state which takes pride in its passion, independence and can-do attitude. in physical education), Conradt first was a high school teacher and assistant girls basketball coach under legendary Waco Midway school administrator M.T. For us, coaching was always bigger than basketball. Opportunity, she says. Her fingerprints at the University of Texas are as 10 Irish lose top scorer Miles to knee injury. She coached the Longhorns from 1976-2007 and was the Texas women's athletic director from 1992-2001. Her aspirations were to teach. WebJody Conradt is a famous American basketball player-coach. With only enough cash for gas and a meal for the trip home, Conradt had her team check out of its hotel. Years later, Coach Conradt joined Dean The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Self-Morgan, who has coached Westlake and Duncanville to multiple high school state championships, does not recall Page complaining about racial discrimination. By JIM VERTUNO October 4, 2022 GMT. Conradt also was Texas' women's athletic director from 1992-2001. While all attempts are made to ensure the correctness and suitability of information under our control and to correct any errors brought to our attention, no representation or guarantee can be made as to the accessibility, correctness or suitability of information provided by any hyperlinked site or any other linked information accessed through the Basketball Hall of Fame website but not under its control. "We changed the world.". The postbaccalaureate impact is the same for the role player and the Olympian. Two of this years Longhorn national titles were by womens teams, rowing and tennis. Pat Summitt and Jody Conradt first met at a basketball camp in 1974. Flanked by about 20 family members including wife Sheila, his spouse of 39 years, Page waved at the appreciative crowd, his eyes glistening from the spotlight aimed Being a part of a team. Yainer Diaz becomes first Astros hitter to violate new MLB rules. UT plans statue for former women's basketball coach Conradt. Summitt joined Conradt on the stage, flashed the "Hook'em Horns" sign and sang "The Eyes of Texas" with the crowd. If I hadnt shown up, I would have been a fraud, he said. "This is not about me. Even then, after briefly teaching junior high in Houston and returning to Waco to be an assistant coach at Midway High and earn her masters at Baylor, opportunities were scarce. Later, North Carolinas Dean Smith and his Tar Heels run-and-jump full-court press inspired her eventual coaching style. AUSTIN - Jody Conradt, the Hall of Fame women's basketball coach who won 900 games in her 38-year career, will be honored by Texas with a statue in her likeness at the Erwin Center. Coaching? We were happy to come away with a victory, but more importantly, I remember marveling at how hard their marketing department had worked to pull off such an amazing feat and how excited we were to be a part of history. Page, sporting an impressive Afro in the early 70s, arrived at Texas after earning bachelors and masters degrees at the University of Houston. Jody Conradt. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Buy or Sell Tickets. Page: Im not a woe-is-me-type person. A UT coach for three years two as a member of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women there were no athletic scholarships for his players when he took the job. The Title IX Educational Amendment was beginning to reshape opportunities for women in collegiate sports. Jody Conradt, after her 900th coaching victory, has seen the impact of Title IX grow and continue.