Twitter: @CoachConard
Lamar Conard begins his fifth season at Miami University coaching running backs.
Conard's first season with the Red and White was a memorable one, helping Alonzo Smith and Kenny Young reach new heights. Smith finished the year with a career-best 746 yards and nine scores, while Young combined for 751 yards and eight scores under Conard. In 2019, Jaylon Bester established career numbers in rushing yards (741) and touchdowns (14).
Conard came to Miami after nine seasons at Illinois State. For the past seven years he coached running backs and served as the recruiting coordinator for the Redbirds. In his time with the running backs at ISU, Conard produced three 1,000-yard rushers.
In 2017, ISU ran for 2,008 yards and 19 touchdowns, something that has been very common under Conard. In 2015 they rushed for 3,044 yards and 39 scores and recorded 3,619 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2014. Conard also coach All-American Marshaun Coprich in 2014, who rushed for 2,274 yards and 27 touchdowns, earning the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Coprich would once again earn conference player of the year honors in 2015.
Coprich exploded on the scene in 2014 and led the FCS in rushing yards (2,274) and touchdowns (27). Those numbers earned him First-Team All-American honors.
Conard came to Illinois State following a two-year graduate assistantship at Purdue, where he also coached the Boilermaker defensive backs and coordinated the scout team offense.
Conard was a defensive back for the Boilermakers from 1996-99. He was the first walk-on at Purdue to be awarded a scholarship under Joe Tiller, doing so in 1997. He was a three-year starter and played in all 37 games during his final three seasons. His career totals included 118 tackles (68 solo, 50 assists), six pass breakups and four interceptions.
A native of Elkhart, Ind., Conard earned a bachelor’s degree in childhood development and family studies from Purdue in 2000 and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Purdue in 2009.
Conard and his wife, Rachel, live with his son, Lamar Jr. and their three children, Della Mae, Payton and Violet.
Conard Timeline
2018-PR - Running Backs, Miami University
2011-17 - Running Backs/Recruiting, Illinois State
2009-10 - Defensive Backs, Illinois State
2007-08 - Graduate Assistant, Purdue
