Lamar Conard is in his third season as running backs coach at his alma mater following five seasons as the running backs coach at Miami (Ohio).
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.
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 Tyrone Tracy Jr. (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).
Conard helped Tracy move from wide receiver into the backfield, where he immediately excelled. 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 emerged as the starting running back for the New York Giants and was one of the NFL's leading rushers among all rookies.
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.
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