JCCC is currently sitting on 12 national championship titles, and twice that amount of runner-ups. Our program takes great pride in its ability to build outstanding lineups to create fierce competition across the nation in all sports. Lucky for us, we still have two Championship coaches with us who are living and breathing for a shot at another title. With a two-year undefeated regular season streak under his belt, who’s to say women’s basketball coach Benjamin Conrad won’t bring another one home? 

“We’ve worked very hard to recruit the right roster year in and year out,” Conrad said. “90% of having successful college athletics programs is having the right players. After that I think the system and the process we implement, and our absolute commitment to that system and process have played big parts.” 

Conrad has indeed recruited the right roster this season, with players like Freshman guards Kara Stricklin and Tamia Smith dropping three 3-pointers against Highland Community College to aid the effort in clinching Conrad’s 500th win to remain undefeated. Even after achieving this amazing feat, Conrad remains focused on his goal and isn’t worried about how many people on campus are aware of him and his team’s talent. 

“Honestly I’ve never given much thought to whether we deserve more attention,” Conrad said. “Our mission in the program has never been focused on attention or recognition as much as just trying to help put our players in position to have some great options after JCCC.” 

In the GYM Building, a history of JCCC Championships.

These are great options they have had, and the proof is all in the numbers. Since 1973, JCCC has produced 196 student athletes to sign on to NCAA D1 schools, and that’s not counting the extra four years after JCCC was originally established in 1969. In 2024 alone, we had an astounding 14 student athletes go D1, to schools such as KU, USC, and Texas A&M. But what factors are going into the success of our athletic program? 

“As a coach, I feel like our department consists of highly competitive and motivated coaches who love to teach, mentor, and help the student-athletes reach their goals,” women’s volleyball coach,” Jennifer Ei said. “We have been very fortunate to be successful across all of our programs in athletics.” 

At the end of the 2020-2021 season, Coach Ei led her team to a national championship, while coming up second in 2024. She has also made 12 national tournament appearances out of her 16 seasons at JCCC. Coach Ei describes winning the national championship as a “dream,” as in the 2020-2021 season they were faced with many challenges with COVID-19 policies being in full effect. 

“I had amazing coaches before me who set a standard and culture of excellence,” Ei said. “We have had tremendous academic support from counselors to the teachers… Our culture, tradition, and the resources at the college have been a huge part of our success.”

The women’s basketball team is currently paving their way towards another national tournament appearance as they remain undefeated this season, with one game left before playoffs. They are currently ranked #2 in the NJCAA DII.