FOLLOW OHIO FOOTBALL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram 
 
ATHENS, Ohio – Lamar Conard has been named Ohio football's assistant head coach and running backs coach, as announced by Head Coach John Hauser Friday (Feb. 13).

"We are excited to welcome Lamar Conard to the Bobcat Family. Lamar brings outstanding leadership and a relentless commitment to developing our players on and off the field. He understands that real success starts with trust, relationships and a daily commitment to growth, aligning perfectly with our program's core values," Hauser said. "Across his career, Lamar has consistently shown the ability to challenge and elevate already strong players both on and off the field. We are fired up to have Coach Conard and his family here and can't wait to get to work."

 Conard comes to Ohio by way of his alma mater, Purdue, where he served as the running backs coach from 2023-25. 

"I am blessed to be here at Ohio University," Conard said. "I appreciate Coach Hauser for the opportunity. Let's get to work!"

Conard mentored Devin Mockobee, who finished his career as the fourth all-time rusher in program history. Mockabee touts multiple top ten spots in the Boilermakers' record book: 100-yard games (fourth – 9), rushing yards (fourth – 2,987), rushing touchdowns (9th – 23) and rushing attempts (4^th – 630). During the 2024 season, Mockobee became the eighth Boilermaker to lead the team on the ground for three consecutive seasons, while ranking 10th in the Big Ten with 4.98 yards per carry.

Purdue's running game exploded in Conard's first season back in West Lafayette, with the Boilermakers ending the 2023 season with the most rushing yards since 2012 (2,029 yds). Notably, Purdue led the Big Ten in rushing in conference games (184.6 ypg) and the team logged back-to-back 300-yard rushing games for the first time since 1968. Purdue's 353 rushing yards against Minnesota were the most by any Big Ten team in a conference game throughout the 2023 season. 

Under Conard's tutelage, Mockobee and Tyrone Tracy Jr. were the only Big Ten duo to rush for more than 500 yards apiece in conference games (Mockobee – 625, Tracy – 624). Additionally, Conard helped Tracy move from wide receiver into the backfield; Tracy's 6.3 yards per carry marked the second-best rushing average in school history and ranked 13th nationally. He produced three 100-yard rushing games, all in Big Ten play, and he became the first running back to lead Purdue in touchdowns since 2015. A fifth-round draft pick, Tracy emerged as the starting running back for the New York Giants and was one of the NFL's leading rushers among all rookies.  

Prior to Purdue, Conard spent 2018-22 at Miami (Ohio) as the RedHawks' running backs coach, adding recruiting coordinator to his title prior to the 2021 season. 
Conard's first season at Miami 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 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 coached 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, Indiana, 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, have four children: Lamar Jr., Della Mae, Payton and Violet.

#OUohyeah