Following Ohio’s 17-10 victory over UNLV in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl to cap off a 9-4 season, it became clear interim head coach John Hauser was the choice to lead the program moving forward.
Once his hiring was announced, the ripple effect followed, as changes at the top almost always bring changes below.
When Hauser began assembling his first staff at the helm of Ohio’s football program, one of his first calls went to Lamar Conard. Having previously worked together, the decision did not take long.
“Hey, dude, I know you're going to have plenty of people reaching out to you, other opportunities,” Conard said, imitating Hauser. “I just said, ‘Man, the opportunity to be an assistant head coach and have more growth in my own space matters to me at this moment, more than some of the financial opportunities that I'll have.’”
Conard joined as assistant head coach and running backs coach after three seasons at his alma mater, Purdue, where he coached running backs from 2023 to 2025.
It marked a return home for Conard, an Indiana native from Elkhart and former Boilermaker who walked on at Purdue, earned a scholarship and started three seasons at defensive back.
“I was blessed,” Conard said of his time playing for Purdue. “I ended up having a wonderful career. I think back on it, and my kids got to experience it with me a little bit. It was just a wonderful journey. I wouldn't change a thing.”
After his playing career ended, Conard moved directly into coaching, beginning at Illinois State, where he spent nine seasons at the FCS level.
Despite playing defense in college, Conard transitioned to coaching running backs at Illinois State, a move that proved successful. He coached players like Marshaun Coprich in 2014, who earned All-American honors and was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Player of the Year.
“After my second year, he moved me to offense because (Illinois State head coach Brock Spack) knew I had played multiple positions,” Conard said. “(He was like) ‘Hey, man, you’re really bright, I also want to make you my recruiting coordinator,’ and it really changed the trajectory of my career.”
That shift led to continued success with the Redbirds and eventually a move to the FBS level, where Conard spent four seasons coaching running backs at Miami (OH) in the Mid-American Conference.
The transition to Oxford also led to his connection with Hauser, then the cornerbacks coach and co-defensive coordinator.
“It was a great experience for me,” Conard said. “I knew some guys on offense, but when I met Hauser, right away, we felt like brothers. We just got along really well.”
After four years at Miami, Conard returned to Purdue, making the jump to the Big Ten and back to a place that had shaped both his playing career and personal life.
At Purdue, he coached running backs such as Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Mockobee, helping develop a productive unit. Tracy Jr. was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the New York Giants and has since totaled 1,529 rushing yards and seven touchdowns over his first two seasons.
Following a 2-10 season for the Boilermakers, Conard departed the program, which opened the door for Hauser’s call.
Conard officially joined Ohio’s staff on Feb. 13 as assistant head coach and running backs coach and now steps into a role leading a talented running back group.
“I'm happy to be here and be able to transition and help Hauser in his first year,” Conard said. (I’m happy to) help him as an assistant head coach and see some things from a different perspective. And also help develop these guys who are here. Duncan Brune is awesome, Victor Rosa is awesome. Mike Taylor has unbelievable talent. (Irving Brown) is awesome.”
Off the field, Conard said his early impressions of Athens and the university have stood out.
“This is an awesome school, awesome campus,” Conard said. “The people are fantastic, friendly. They just want to win. They just want a good product on the field. But the biggest thing to me is the people; everybody's been super kind and welcoming, and you could feel that they want this football team to be successful.”
