Lady Cavs speak out about new coach

Early indications indicate Benjamin Conrad is the perfect fit to lead the Lady Cavs.

Sophomore Amanda Dittmer said she thinks he will be a welcome addition to the club.

"He has been great so far about getting in contact with each of the girls and he has met with some of our parents," she said. "He seems really excited for this upcoming year to work with us girls and start somewhere new. I am very excited about the upcoming year."

Fellow sophomore Ivy Morrison said she hasn't met Conrad yet.

"But he should be coming up here sometime very soon," she said. "I will get a chance to be introduced to, and to speak with him."

Incoming freshman Megan Cook said she is excited about the new coach.

"He seems like a young guy that really wants to be here and feels very strongly about his new position," she said.

Cook said she's under the impression that Conrad wants to be here.

"This is where he wants to be and feels privlidged to be here. He seems very passionated and intense about the game," she said. "He is going to push the team very hard and it is my assumption that we will be very successful under his coaching."

Conrad began his career in 1996 as a coaches assistant at University of Northern Iowa. After three seasons at UNI he spent one year as a graduate assistant at Iowa State in 2000-01. That year the Cyclones advanced all the way to the Sweet 16.

After receiving his Bachelors in Political Science from UNI (1999) and his Master's in Exercise Science from Iowa State (2001) he spent one season as an assistant coach at Graceland University (2001-02). In 2002 he accepted his first head coaching job at Des Moines Area Community College . Conrad spent three seasons (2002-05) at Des Moines going 71-27.

In 2005, Conrad accepted the head coaching position at Upper Iowa University, an NCAA Division II school. Upper Iowa's won-lost record in Conrad's first season (2005-06) is unavailable. In 2006-07 they joined the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and went 9-19 (5-13 in conference). Last season Upper Iowa went 7-23 (3-15).