CJ Conrad Hired As Tight Ends Coach At Eastern Kentucky University

Former Kentucky tight end CJ Conrad played in 49 games for the Wildcats throughout his career with over 1,000 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns, including one memorable touchdown at Missouri. After graduation, he signed with the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent, then returned to Lexington in 2020 to help Mark Stoops’ offense as a graduate assistant.

Now, Conrad has his first coaching job in college football, right down the road at Eastern Kentucky.

Today, EKU Football introduced CJ Conrad as its new tight ends coach. Colonels head coach Walt Wells, a quality control assistant at Kentucky during Conrad’s senior season, said of the hire, “I am excited to welcome CJ and his wife, Katie, into our EKU football program. I had the great fortune to watch CJ play during my time at Kentucky. He is a highly motivated, intelligent young coach who has played the position and had great success. I am very excited about what he brings to our tight ends room.”

Before Conrad landed his first full-time coaching gig, he was promoted from two-year grad assistant to quality control coach for the offense at the start of Kentucky’s spring practices earlier this year. He earned the promotion for his work with the tight ends and the critical role he played in UK’s recruiting efforts.

Conrad said of his move to Richmond, “I am so excited for this opportunity at EKU. I’ve learned so much during my time at Kentucky. The knowledge I’ve gained from Coach Stoops, Coach Morrow, and Coach Coen is invaluable, and I’m eager to get to work.”

The ‘Cats will miss Conrad, but the Colonels are getting a good one.

CJ Conrad, the player

CJ Conrad played at Kentucky from 2015 to 2018 and was an important piece in the Kentucky program’s rise under Mark Stoops. A heart condition limited his pro career, but in Lexington, he is remembered as a four-star signee in the loaded 2015 high school recruiting class, who graduated four years later as the 28th-ranked player on the all-time career receiving yards list.

Conrad was also a Pop Warner National College Football Award winner for his work with the Kentucky Children’s Hospital and around the community.