Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

7/9/2008
Story by Tyler Cundith

Cavaliers select new women’s basketball coach  

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- Johnson County Community College has named Ben Conrad as its new women’s basketball coach. He inherits a program that finished fifth in the NJCAA Division II Tournament last year while posting a school record 28 wins.

Conrad brings a wealth of experience coaching women’s basketball, both as a head coach and assistant coach. Most recently, Conrad managed the first three seasons at Upper Iowa University at the NCAA Division II level.
 
After a difficult transition season in 2005-06 as a "provisional status Division II" program, the Peacocks became full members of the Northern Sun in Conrad's second season at UIU. During the 2006-07 season, Conrad's first Peacock recruiting class arrived on campus and quickly established itself. This campaign saw freshman guard Andrea Downs named NSIC Freshman of the Year, and three true freshmen combine for over 50 starts and 20 points per game in 2006-07. During this campaign, the Peacocks earned the seventh seed in the NSIC tournament in just their first year of "Full Division II membership" status. Conrad's young Peacocks would win nine games in his second year, the most of any UIU team in five years. They were involved in an astounding nine losses where UIU either was ahead, tied, or within a basket inside 2:00 to play or overtime.

Prior to taking the reins at Upper Iowa, Conrad served three seasons at Des Moines Area Community College. He immediately turned things around at DMACC, guiding the Bears to a 20-12 record after inheriting a program that had won just 18 games over the previous three seasons. That club set school records for wins, conference wins, and advanced to the Region semifinals.

The records continued to fall in 2003-04 as Conrad's Bears went 27-6 and advanced to another Regional semifinal. In Conrad's final season at DMACC, the 2004-05 squad posted a 24-9 record and was ranked as high as fifth in the nation. When the dust settled, after three years at DMACC, Conrad had amassed a 71-27 record, recruited and coached the first two All Americans in school history, recruited and coached 12 All Conference selections, spent 21 weeks in the NJCAA Top 15 National Poll, and coached nine players that signed with Division I or Division II programs.

Conrad started his coaching career as a student assistant with the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball program from 1996-99, working under legendary coach Eldon Miller. He served as a graduate assistant with the Iowa State University women's basketball team in 2000-01. That season, the Cyclones won the Big 12 Conference Tournament and reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.

Conrad spent the 2001-02 season as an assistant men's basketball coach at Graceland University, helping Graceland to its best season in five years, before moving to DMACC.

A graduate of North Polk High School in Alleman, Conrad earned his Bachelors Degree in Political Science from UNI in 1999 and his Masters Degree in Exercise Science from Iowa State in 2001. Conrad is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.