JImmy Conrad article from the Ohio Northern University Sports page
Conrad is widely regarded as one of the top men’s basketball players in Ohio Northern history. A four-year letter-winner from 2001-04, Conrad currently ranks second all-time at ONU with 1,918 career points.
He was a First Team All-American, the Great Lakes Region Player of the Year and the OAC Player of the Year in 2003-04, when he led Ohio Northern with a 21.0 points-per-game scoring average. Conrad is ONU’s all-time career free-throw shooting percentage leader, making a 88.7 percent of his attempts.
He was a four-time All-OAC honoree, earning First Team All-Conference accolades in each of his final three seasons.
As a freshman, Conrad played a vital role on the Polar Bear squad that won the OAC Regular Season and Tournament titles and reached the NCAA Division III Final Four. Conrad wasthe 2004 Clyde Lamb Award winner as Ohio Northern’s top male student-athlete.
Currently, Conrad is employed by Stanley Electric U.C. Company in London, Ohio, as an assistant manager in the cost accounting department. Conrad and his wife, Kendra (Bailey), a 2004 ONU graduate, reside in Hilliard, Ohio, with their children Cayden (3) and Beckett (10 months).
He was a First Team All-American, the Great Lakes Region Player of the Year and the OAC Player of the Year in 2003-04, when he led Ohio Northern with a 21.0 points-per-game scoring average. Conrad is ONU’s all-time career free-throw shooting percentage leader, making a 88.7 percent of his attempts.
He was a four-time All-OAC honoree, earning First Team All-Conference accolades in each of his final three seasons.
As a freshman, Conrad played a vital role on the Polar Bear squad that won the OAC Regular Season and Tournament titles and reached the NCAA Division III Final Four. Conrad wasthe 2004 Clyde Lamb Award winner as Ohio Northern’s top male student-athlete.
Currently, Conrad is employed by Stanley Electric U.C. Company in London, Ohio, as an assistant manager in the cost accounting department. Conrad and his wife, Kendra (Bailey), a 2004 ONU graduate, reside in Hilliard, Ohio, with their children Cayden (3) and Beckett (10 months).
Tom Ushers Article on Jim Conrad
ADA – For just a second, it looked like old times.
Jimmy Conrad came down the floor at Ohio Northern, pulled up and knocked down a 3-pointer.
Only this was in the recent ONU alumni game and the opponent was the ONU junior varsity team.
“I enjoy coming in and it’s always good to see some old faces and act like we’re college kids all over again,” Conrad said.
Conrad, from Perry High School, was a first team All-American at ONU in 2003-04. Three times he made first team all-Ohio Athletic Conference and his senior year he was the Gregory Award winner for the OAC player of the year.
He finished his Polar Bears’ career second on the school’s all-time leading scoring list with 1,918 points, second only to Jeremy Thompson’s 1,978. Conrad is also the school’s best career free-throw shooter at 88.7 percent (399 of 450).
He ranks second in career steals (192), second in field-goals made (644) and third in free-throws made (399). He’s also fourth all-time in games played (109), sixth in 3-pointers made (231) and 10th in assists (301).
Last year he was inducted into the ONU Hall of Fame.
And, of all the ONU players I’ve seen over the last 29 years, I would rank D’Artis Jones No. 1 and Conrad No. 2. Jones led the Polar Bears to the 1993 National Championship.
Not only was Conrad stocked with passion for the game, he was the ultimate hustler and quick to dive on the floor for any loose ball.
And he always wanted the ball at the end of the game.
As a freshman in 2001, he was a key player on the team that finished 27-4 and reached the Holy Grail of the Final Four.
The Polar Bears, led by high-flying Kris Oberdick, lost in the Division III National semifinals that year.
“I guess the biggest memory for me (about playing at ONU) was my freshman year and the run we had to the Final Four and being able to host the (NCAA) Tournament games had here,” Conrad said. “That was probably the greatest atmosphere I’ve ever played in, filling this place (the King Horn Center) up and having three good games here. That was pretty special.”
Looking back, Conrad realizes how fortunate he was to be part of a Final Four team.
“Being freshmen, Bos (Chad Bostelman) and I got quite a few minutes that year and we were out there playing the game,” Conrad said. “We didn’t realize how special it was at the moment. Then, you get to the next year and you look back and see how difficult that was to do what we did. It was a pretty special year.”
Conrad also will never forget the plays Obderdick made. There were nights he would alternate between knocking down 15-foot jumpers and soaring over bodies to the rim to slam down dunks.
“He (Oberdick) put us on his back that year,” Conrad said. “I remember the Carthage game that sent us to the Final Four, he took over there at the end. It was quite impressive.”
The Polar Bears’ coach of that Final Four season, Joe Campoli, returned for the alumni game. With the ONU varsity game delayed for an hour, Campoli was glad to tell a few of his basketball stories.
One story Campoli told was how after the mammoth ice storm hit the region, he was given special permission to practice after the students were sent home. But there was a catch to the practice, Campoli said.
“The president told us we couldn’t use basketballs,” he said. “So with no basketballs, what do you do? I just had them run up and down the floor.”
Conrad said, “He (Campoli) was a great players’ coach. He realized this is Division III basketball and we weren’t getting money to play this game and academics came first. He let us have our freedom so he made it fun to play for him. We have a good relationship to this day.”
Conrad works as an accountant and lives in Columbus with his wife, Kendra, and their two boys, 4-year-old Cayden and 1-year-old Beckett.
After the alumni game, he spent time playing basketball with his 4-year-old, who was firing balls at the basket.
Conrad still plays basketball in two different Columbus leagues.
“I’ll do it while I can,” he said. “I enjoy getting out there and enjoy the competition.”
Asked if he still shoots plenty of 3-pointers, Conrad said with a laugh, “Oh yea, you have less chance for injuries staying out by the arc.”
Jimmy Conrad came down the floor at Ohio Northern, pulled up and knocked down a 3-pointer.
Only this was in the recent ONU alumni game and the opponent was the ONU junior varsity team.
“I enjoy coming in and it’s always good to see some old faces and act like we’re college kids all over again,” Conrad said.
Conrad, from Perry High School, was a first team All-American at ONU in 2003-04. Three times he made first team all-Ohio Athletic Conference and his senior year he was the Gregory Award winner for the OAC player of the year.
He finished his Polar Bears’ career second on the school’s all-time leading scoring list with 1,918 points, second only to Jeremy Thompson’s 1,978. Conrad is also the school’s best career free-throw shooter at 88.7 percent (399 of 450).
He ranks second in career steals (192), second in field-goals made (644) and third in free-throws made (399). He’s also fourth all-time in games played (109), sixth in 3-pointers made (231) and 10th in assists (301).
Last year he was inducted into the ONU Hall of Fame.
And, of all the ONU players I’ve seen over the last 29 years, I would rank D’Artis Jones No. 1 and Conrad No. 2. Jones led the Polar Bears to the 1993 National Championship.
Not only was Conrad stocked with passion for the game, he was the ultimate hustler and quick to dive on the floor for any loose ball.
And he always wanted the ball at the end of the game.
As a freshman in 2001, he was a key player on the team that finished 27-4 and reached the Holy Grail of the Final Four.
The Polar Bears, led by high-flying Kris Oberdick, lost in the Division III National semifinals that year.
“I guess the biggest memory for me (about playing at ONU) was my freshman year and the run we had to the Final Four and being able to host the (NCAA) Tournament games had here,” Conrad said. “That was probably the greatest atmosphere I’ve ever played in, filling this place (the King Horn Center) up and having three good games here. That was pretty special.”
Looking back, Conrad realizes how fortunate he was to be part of a Final Four team.
“Being freshmen, Bos (Chad Bostelman) and I got quite a few minutes that year and we were out there playing the game,” Conrad said. “We didn’t realize how special it was at the moment. Then, you get to the next year and you look back and see how difficult that was to do what we did. It was a pretty special year.”
Conrad also will never forget the plays Obderdick made. There were nights he would alternate between knocking down 15-foot jumpers and soaring over bodies to the rim to slam down dunks.
“He (Oberdick) put us on his back that year,” Conrad said. “I remember the Carthage game that sent us to the Final Four, he took over there at the end. It was quite impressive.”
The Polar Bears’ coach of that Final Four season, Joe Campoli, returned for the alumni game. With the ONU varsity game delayed for an hour, Campoli was glad to tell a few of his basketball stories.
One story Campoli told was how after the mammoth ice storm hit the region, he was given special permission to practice after the students were sent home. But there was a catch to the practice, Campoli said.
“The president told us we couldn’t use basketballs,” he said. “So with no basketballs, what do you do? I just had them run up and down the floor.”
Conrad said, “He (Campoli) was a great players’ coach. He realized this is Division III basketball and we weren’t getting money to play this game and academics came first. He let us have our freedom so he made it fun to play for him. We have a good relationship to this day.”
Conrad works as an accountant and lives in Columbus with his wife, Kendra, and their two boys, 4-year-old Cayden and 1-year-old Beckett.
After the alumni game, he spent time playing basketball with his 4-year-old, who was firing balls at the basket.
Conrad still plays basketball in two different Columbus leagues.
“I’ll do it while I can,” he said. “I enjoy getting out there and enjoy the competition.”
Asked if he still shoots plenty of 3-pointers, Conrad said with a laugh, “Oh yea, you have less chance for injuries staying out by the arc.”
Devon Allen’s Interview with Jim Conrad
D- Im here with former Ohio Northern point guard and all american Jimmy Conrad. Jim thanks for taking time out of your day. Do I have permission to use this reording for my website and other forms of social media?
j- no problem, yes you do.
D- okay looking back on your career from Lima Perry to Ohio Nothern what are you most proud of?
J- The people I was able to get to know and how many differet places the game of basketball was able to take me. Coming from perry I had no idea what was going to happen when I arrived. There was a point in my college career I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to play basketball anymore and if it was for me. But the things my teamates and I were able to accomplish will be remeered for a long time.
D- How did Lima help form you as a player and person?
J- Coming from Lima you are able to always play against grat competition growing up. There are a ton of great players in our area and when you constantly are playing against good telent it will make you a lot better
D- Did you enjoy your time at Ohio Northenr? Any regrets
J- None! I love this place it was a perfect fit for me. I was able to meet life long friends and have the time of my life.
D- What would you tell to futur polar bears?
J- enjoy it! College really is the time of your life and it goes by really fast. Take everyday and make it count because one day youll find yourself wishing you could go back
D- Thanks jimmy for your time!
J- No problem I really enjoyed it