OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Johnson County Community College head women's basketball coach Ben Conrad has been named the 2026 Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA) Women's Basketball Coach of the Year. It marks the fourth time in the past six years Conrad has received the honor (2021, 2022, 2025, 2026).
Conrad recently completed his 18th season at JCCC with another historic campaign. The 2025–26 Cavaliers posted the second undefeated regular season in program history, finishing 30–0, and went on to compile a 35–1 overall record. Johnson County captured both the KJCCC Division II and Region 6 championships, earned the No. 1 seed at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, and finished third in the nation. The 35 victories and .972 winning percentage established new program records, while JCCC held the No. 1 ranking in all 16 national polls after opening the season atop the rankings.
Individually, Laya Scott added to her historic career by earning NJCAA First-Team All-America honors for the second time, becoming the first player in program history to achieve that distinction, while also being named KJCCC Division II MVP. Mia Adams earned NJCAA All-America honorable mention recognition, and both Adams and Anonda Ford were named WBCA All-Americans.
A four-time National Coach of the Year, Conrad has built JCCC into one of the premier programs in NJCAA women's basketball since taking over in June 2008. Known for his energy, recruiting and commitment to a team-first approach centered on defensive intensity, Conrad has led the Cavaliers to consistent success at both the conference and national levels.
His tenure includes 13 seasons with 30 or more wins, highlighted by eight consecutive 30-win campaigns from 2009–10 through 2016–17—an NJCAA women's basketball record. Conrad has guided JCCC to two NJCAA Division II National Championships (2015, 2025), three national runner-up finishes (2017, 2021, 2024), and a third-place finish in 2026. The program has made 10 national tournament appearances, captured 11 conference titles, and is currently riding a streak of six consecutive KJCCC championships.
Nationally, JCCC has been a fixture near the top of the rankings, finishing No. 1 or No. 2 a combined 10 times and appearing in the top 10 in more than 90 percent of polls. The Cavaliers have been ranked in 98 consecutive polls and have held the No. 1 position 84 times during Conrad's tenure.
Conrad's players have earned numerous individual accolades, including 25 NJCAA All-Americans, 19 WBCA All-Americans, 10 World Exposure Report All-Americans, and 17 NJCAA All-Tournament selections, including two MVPs. The program has also produced seven conference MVPs.
Success under Conrad extends beyond the court. JCCC has recorded 32 NJCAA Academic All-America honorees along with multiple College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections.
Throughout his career, Conrad has averaged nearly 29 wins per season at JCCC and owns an 89–36 record against ranked NJCAA Division II opponents. His teams have consistently set high standards, including the 2014–15 squad that secured the program's first national championship with a 34–2 record and the 2015–16 team that completed a 30–0 regular season while holding the No. 1 ranking throughout the year.
Defensively, Conrad's teams have ranked among the nation's elite, finishing in the top 10 in scoring defense 17 times and leading the nation on nine occasions. Several teams have set school records for points allowed per game, including a program-best 41.5 points allowed during the 2012–13 season.
Player development remains a hallmark of the program, with 86 student-athletes advancing to four-year programs under Conrad, including 28 who moved on to NCAA Division I institutions.