McCollum's Column: The ties that bind Conque begin with relationships

During a question-and-answer portion during Monday’s appearance before the Little Rock Touchdown Club, University of Central Arkansas coach Clint Conque said with boldness and pride, “We love Arkansas; I love my job.”

Now, to fill in the blanks. 

Conque coaches with emotion. He attacks issues with emotion. And he approaches his family with more emotion.

These Conques are a tight-knit group. Unless there is an overwhelming excuse, some family member is at every game, every public appearance. One first things the coach does after every game is a short session with his family.

Joining Conque at Monday’s Touchdown Club luncheon were his wife, Angele, and his two sons, Chasse and Zachary (who took a break from school) to hear the talk. And his other son, Benton, would have been there except for his duties as a student and athlete at the United States Military Academy.

The question concerned how Conque, with his record and reputation, has stayed at UCA for 10 years — which he conceded amounts to three presidents, two interim presidents and six athletic directors.

This opened the door for Conque not only to reflect on the past but to talk about relationships,

The 10-year milestone as a head coach is special to Conque. During the Bears’ trip to Pearl Harbor during the season-opening visit to Hawaii, Conque had a couple pictures taken with Scott Brezee, Jon Rodriguez and Nathan Brown, former players from different eras of the program who now assist him in various ways.

“My commitment to UCA has been a family decision,” he said. “But I also believe in the process of what we’re doing and where we are going.”

And he turned to relationships.

“When I get out of coaching, I won’t miss those 11- to 12-hour sessions evaluating video, I assure you of that,” he said. “I won’t miss those eight-hour bus rides like we had last week. What I will miss is the relationships — with coaches and players. All the relationships. You’ve had (former coaches) Tuberville (Tommy) and R.C. (Slocum) speak to you here. I think there will tell you that is what they miss.”

When Conque was hired, John Smith, UCA’s interim president at the time, told me what most impressed him about Conque was his passion for helping young people — that he considered himself an educator as well as a coach.

Conque was reared by a single mother, whose values were reinforced by many of his coaches. He knows from his own experience what could have happened to him if some of those relationships had not blossomed and sent him down a positive path in life.

This is not to say Conque will not leave UCA someday. But it won’t be just for money. With his skill in engaging people and speaker, he could already probably be making more money in marketing, his major in college.

During the question-and-answer session, the father of offensive lineman Lane Freiwald stood up and briefly told how he appreciated Conque efforts the development and maturity of his son. Conque noted that Freiwald will likely get his chance to try to make a pro football team in the future. “And he’s going to graduate,” he father said proudly.

“I’m having a lot of fun making a difference in a lot of players’ lives,” Conque said. “Rings will break or tarnish, but you treasure those relationships.”

(Sports columnist David McCollum can be reached at 505-1235 or david.mccollum@thecabin.net)