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. On Buzzlearn.com, Jody is listed as a Conradt honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by NACWAA [June 4, 2010] In 38 years as a collegiate head coach, Conradts players won 900 games. These young ladies stared and smiled in wonder, knowing now how committed their mom was to an education and to basketball, working to be the best she could be. We knew we were women entering a male-dominated arena. In her brazen navet, Lopiano hadnt connected the dots or realized the ramification of going to Capitol Hill. Retha Swindell and Cathy Self-Morgan, pioneer players for Texas womens basketball, describe Page as a driven but fair man who cared about his players. Page said the most influential figure during his time at Texas was the late Betty Thompson, a pioneer in womens athletics. Texas was a sleeping giant soon to be awakened by visionary womens athletics director Donna Lopiano and a supportive administration, faculty and fan base. He still serves the district as a part-time life-skills coach.. Angela Jackson was a four-year starter eventual all-conference player for us and graduated in 1998 with a journalism degree. What a state takeover of HISD could mean for parents, students, Houston ISD to face TEA state takeover, Turner says, In Fertitta's members-only club, where photos, media are banned, Study: Low-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack, stroke risk, 750-home agrihood with farm, car-free zones breaks ground, HCC chancellor to leave role at end of contract, Popular breakfast taco spot in Houston announces a comeback, Opinion: 'Dilbert' readers can discern the wheat from the chaff, Second-half goal lifts Bush boys past district foe George Ranch, Loss to TCU sinks Texas' hopes of playing for Big 12 championship. We think about it being opportunity in sport, but it is opportunity in a lot of different areas. But, over time, funding and other continuing inequities between the mens and womens sports nationally and at Texas troubled Lopiano. On Dec. 9, 1982, the first game of the Texas versus Tennessee series was born. For us, coaching was always bigger than basketball. He retired from the Round Rock school district in 2004. instructor to Coach Conradt to Texas womens athletic director. He has not returned to the university to watch the Lady Longhorns during that span until Sunday. It was not easy for a man of color to coach at Texas, he said. During his final two seasons, as a member of the AIAW, the Longhorns were 17-10 and 21-7, respectively, good progress for such a new team. 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. Conradt was told she had to go to the physical education department and speak to the woman who coached the womens team. At UT-Arlington her volleyball squads were superior to her basketball teams because, as a commuter school, most of the walk-on athletes had attended metro-area high schools, where volleyball was the sport of choice. Her love was basketball. Title IX changed all of that and also created advancement and access opportunities for talented, motivated and elite female student-athletes to derive the same benefits as their male counterparts from quality coaching, demanding training, teamwork, competition and a college education. Clearly, for us, it wasn't about the money. Her aspirations were to teach. Texas already has statues honoring former football coach Darrell Royal and Heisman Trophy winners Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams outside the football stadium. Afterward, we enjoyed some food and drinks with old coaching buddies at Scholz Garten, the oldest and one of the most beloved sports bars in Austin. As fate would have it the following spring, Pat would stand on a ladder to cut down the nets in the Frank Erwin Center in Austin as her team became the NCAA champs, the first of eight titles in her 38-year career. The resulting suit, filed on behalf of three club rowers, three club gymnasts and an intramural softball player, compelled Texas to settle out of court by adding varsity womens soccer (1993), softball (1995) and rowing (1998). She enrolled at Baylor to pursue a teaching degree. AUSTIN, Texas -- When the University of Texas hired Jody Conradt to coach its women's basketball team for $17,000 in 1976, one of the state's largest newspapers announced the move with the headline: "Woman Hired at Man's Salary.". Texas actually was behind somewhat compared to some smaller in-state schools (Wayland Baptist College, for example) and even at UT System component where I was employed (UT Arlington). Conradt had a 900-307 career record as a coach. 1000 Hall of Fame AvenueSpringfield, Massachusetts 01105. Easily the states best womens basketball program since the late 1940s was Plainviews Wayland Baptist and its Flying Queens, the first school in the country to offer full scholarships to women athletes, largely funded by a local businessman. 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. The postbaccalaureate impact is the same for the role player and the Olympian. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Her 1985-86 team (34-0) was the sport's first undefeated national champion, and she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. Even then, I knew. Jody Conradt: It certainly was my decision, and I think [womens athletics 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). Mens sports owned and controlled their own financial pie, largely funded by football. UT plans statue for former women's basketball coach Conradt. That was followed by 25 years in public schools. Self-Morgan, who has coached Westlake and Duncanville to multiple high school state championships, does not recall Page complaining about racial discrimination. Jody Conradt is the former University of Texas womens basketball coach (1976-2007) and womens athletics director (1992-2001). Striving for excellence. We knew there would be many things we could not control. Jody Conradt, after her 900th coaching victory, has seen the impact of Title IX grow and continue. One of my fondest memories was when she came to Austin to speak at my statue ceremony in 2012. From 1992-2001, Conradt served UT in a dual role as basketball coach and womens athletics director, and she currently serves as a special assistant to womens athletics. Royal told Lopiano to get a copy of the budget from his assistant. [email protected]. Always thinking. For more information on how to contribute to Conradt's legacy, please contact: But that wasn't all she was. Many are in C-suites. Conradt honored with Joe Lapchick Character Award [Nov. 18, 2010] She was 45 years old. We were at our states' preeminent public institutions. 2023 The University of Texas at Austin Athletics, J. Dan Brown Family Player Development Center, Conradt among National Sportsmanship Day 20th Anniversary honorees, Conradt honored with Joe Lapchick Character Award, Conradt honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by NACWAA, Conradt to co-chair WBCA ethics committee, Conradt to be honored with TAHPERD Pathfinder Award, Conradt selected as 2008 Naismith Outstanding Contributors to Basketball award winners, Conradt to receive Giant Steps Award from National Consortium for Academics and Sports, 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), The University of Texas at Austin: 62-38-7 (1976-77), 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), 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), 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), Distinguished speaker series, internships, Health and wellness research at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. As we approach the 50th anniversary date June 23, 2022 of the passage of Title IX federal legislation, Im among many who joyfully witness that laws impact today. She had a hunger. He considers it an honor to be the universitys first black head coach, but the journey was not always easy. 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 towomens collegiate basketballduring 31years as head coach with the Longhorns. She loved maneuvering. Conradt had coaching stints at Sam Houston State and Texas-Arlington before taking the Texas job. As I think back on the early days of women's basketball, I think about how much of it is defined by not only Pat's success but her presence. When the University of Texas hired Jody Conradt to coach its women's basketball team for $17,000 in 1976, one of the state's largest newspapers announced FILE - Texas forward Tiffany Jackson (33) points during Big 12 women's basketball tournament practice Monday, March 5, 2007 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Jackson, a former standout at the University of Texas who was the Once we settled in at our respective institutions in our respective shades of orange, I think we both realized the opportunity before us. Heres what you need to know. Texas, perhaps more than any university in the country, has grappled with, shaped and ultimately led the implementing of Title IX. On Sunday, Texas welcomed a fellow coach back to the fold. After two seasons shed stopped coaching volleyball, with basketball well en route to powerhouse status, although Conradt says she never envisioned the scope of what was to come: womens basketball often outdrawing the men in the Erwin Center, with Barbara Jordan and Ann Richards as courtside regulars. 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. She is currently a special assistant 10 Irish lose top scorer Miles to knee injury. Coach Conradt said, "That became the defensive philosophy I've always tried to follow." Coach at Texas troubled Lopiano own financial pie, largely funded by football time funding. 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