WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Once a Boilermaker, always a Boilermaker. Lamar Conard, a Purdue graduate who played for the Boilermakers (1996-99) and spent the past two seasons as the program's running back coach, will remain in his role coaching the Purdue backfield as part of new head coach Barry Odom's staff. Conard becomes the first assistant named to Odom's coaching staff in West Lafayette.
"When I first met Lamar, I was excited to hear about his passion for Purdue," said Odom. "It is evident that he is a great teacher, mentor and role model for our student-athletes. Lamar has a vast knowledge of the game and knows what it takes to be successful. He will continue to help develop the skills of our running backs, putting them in a position to play with confidence and have success."
Over the past two seasons, Conard has guided a running back room led by Devin Mockobee. The Boonville, Indiana native has rushed for 1,498 yards with Conard as his coach, moving into the Top 10 in Purdue history for 100-yard games (sixth – 8), rushing yards (ninth – 2,462) and rushing touchdowns (10th – 19) over his first three years as a Boilermaker. During the 2024 season, Mockobee led Purdue in rushing for the third straight season, the eighth Boilermaker to accomplish that feat, while ranking 10th in the Big Ten with 4.98 yards per carry.
Conard also led Tyrone Tracy Jr.'s transition from wide receiver to running back during the 2023 campaign, being instrumental in helping him prepare for the NFL. Tracy's 6.3 yards per carry paced the Big Ten and ranked 13th nationally, the second-best rushing average in school history. 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 has emerged as the starting running back for the New York Giants and ranks second among NFL rookies in rushing yards (695) to his point of the 2024 season.
With Conard's guidance, the Purdue running game exploded during his first season back in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers led the Big Ten in rushing in conference games (184.6 ypg), and ended the season with 2,029 yards, the most since 2012. The success on the ground included back-to-back 300-yard rushing games, accomplishing the feat 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 (811) and Tracy (716) combined for 1,527 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. The pair of Boilermakers became the only Big Ten duo to rush for more than 500 yards apiece in conference games (Mockobee – 625, Tracy – 624).
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Conard spent five seasons at Miami (Ohio) after nine years at Illinois State. He arrived at 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.
"When I first met Lamar, I was excited to hear about his passion for Purdue," said Odom. "It is evident that he is a great teacher, mentor and role model for our student-athletes. Lamar has a vast knowledge of the game and knows what it takes to be successful. He will continue to help develop the skills of our running backs, putting them in a position to play with confidence and have success."
Over the past two seasons, Conard has guided a running back room led by Devin Mockobee. The Boonville, Indiana native has rushed for 1,498 yards with Conard as his coach, moving into the Top 10 in Purdue history for 100-yard games (sixth – 8), rushing yards (ninth – 2,462) and rushing touchdowns (10th – 19) over his first three years as a Boilermaker. During the 2024 season, Mockobee led Purdue in rushing for the third straight season, the eighth Boilermaker to accomplish that feat, while ranking 10th in the Big Ten with 4.98 yards per carry.
Conard also led Tyrone Tracy Jr.'s transition from wide receiver to running back during the 2023 campaign, being instrumental in helping him prepare for the NFL. Tracy's 6.3 yards per carry paced the Big Ten and ranked 13th nationally, the second-best rushing average in school history. 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 has emerged as the starting running back for the New York Giants and ranks second among NFL rookies in rushing yards (695) to his point of the 2024 season.
With Conard's guidance, the Purdue running game exploded during his first season back in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers led the Big Ten in rushing in conference games (184.6 ypg), and ended the season with 2,029 yards, the most since 2012. The success on the ground included back-to-back 300-yard rushing games, accomplishing the feat 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 (811) and Tracy (716) combined for 1,527 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. The pair of Boilermakers became the only Big Ten duo to rush for more than 500 yards apiece in conference games (Mockobee – 625, Tracy – 624).
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Conard spent five seasons at Miami (Ohio) after nine years at Illinois State. He arrived at 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.