When it came to the phrase “right-hand man” Ken Conatser was literally that during his role as an assistant coach for the Youngstown State Football program from 1986 through 2000 and then again in 2003.
Conatser was an offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at various times as a member of the YSU football coaching staff. Today, that would be unimaginable at the Division I level.
Whatever was needed, he stepped in and did a tremendous job. During his tenure, the Penguins won National Championships in 1991, 1993, 1994 and 1997 while playing for titles in 1992 and 1999.
Conatser came to YSU in 1986, and during his 15-year tenure he served in numerous capacities. He was an assistant head coach (1992-2000), offensive line coach (1986-96, 2000), linebackers coach (1997-99), defensive coordinator (1989-91), offensive coordinator (1986-88) and the special teams coordinator (1989-94) while with the Penguins.
Following the 2000 season, Conatser followed Coach Jim Tressel to Ohio State. In 2001, he was the special teams coordinator for the Buckeyes. After one season at OSU, he had a brief stint at Kansas before returning to Youngstown in March 2003.
In his second stint with the program (2003), he coached the special teams and assisted with the defensive line.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, he is a 1962 graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he was a two-way starter at both guard and linebacker.
After graduation, he enjoyed a successful high school coaching career at Milford, Western Hills and Harrison high schools in the Cincinnati area.
In 1971, Conatser became the offensive line coach at UMass where he spent two seasons in his first FCS coaching foray.
He then returned to the high school ranks as the head coach at Milford.
Conatser resumed his collegiate career back at UMass in 1977, again as the offensive line coach. He remained there for three seasons and guided that squad to a runner-up finish in the FCS playoffs.
After a brief stint out of coaching, he returned to the sidelines in 1981, this time as the offensive line coach at Syracuse. He spent three years with the Orange, leaving after the 1983 campaign to become the offensive line coach at San Diego State. He spent two seasons with the Aztecs before coming to YSU.
During his 15-season first run at YSU, the school enjoyed remarkable success, winning four NCAA National Championships and qualifying for the playoffs on 10 occasions.
Ken and his wife, Carole, have a son, Dean, who was a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps.
