Beth Conway

Birthdate: May 28, 1951
Birthplace: Columbus, Ohio
High School: Bishop Watterson, 1969
Colleges: Ohio State University, 1973
Year Inducted: 2020

Growing up in a large family with five siblings, adept at many sports in her youth and an academic achiever to boot, Beth Conway used that upbringing, passion to compete and intellectual curiosity to become a standout high school basketball coach.

As a student-athlete at Ohio State, Conway was a member of the basketball team and also found time to play field hockey and softball, serving as co-captain in the latter two sports. In fact, she participated in the 1973 Field Hockey National Tournament and was both a starting pitcher and second baseman for the Buckeyes softball team.

Soon after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Conway arrived to Bishop Hartley High School, a Central Catholic League rival of her high school alma mater, Bishop Watterson. She taught health and physical education and also was named Dean of Students during her seven-plus years at Hartley. But it was the exploits of the girls basketball team from 1976-81 that made her an eastside legend.

In 1976, Conway’s third year on hand, the Hawks captured the  AA state championship. That was followed by a run to regional runner-up in 1977 and another state title in 1978. With point guard Toni Roesch at full stardom and Conway on the sidelines, Hartley was state runner-up, a regional semifinalist and state semifinalist from 1979-81. The Hawks won six straight central district titles in that six-year span.

During that time, Conway also served as head coach for the girls teams in field hockey, softball, volleyball, and track and field, winning numerous CCL titles along the way. In 1978, the softball squad won district and regional titles in fast-pitch, advancing to the state semis.

Conway found new challenges after leaving Hartley. She was named Associate Athletic Director at Ashland College and served in that role for four years. She also was head coach for the women’s basketball, field hockey and tennis teams and managed to earn her master’s degree in education from Ohio State in 1982. She went on to teaching and administrative stints for Toledo Catholic Schools and Worthington City Schools, and was a girls basketball coach in Worthington from 1986-91.

In 2000, Conway added attained another graduate degree, an MA in counseling psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. She was a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor for seven years, working as a trauma counselor for the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Freeport Illinois Social Services.

Conway retired in May 2016 but is still very active and enjoys many activities including golf, walking and hiking. She remains a standout coach and pioneer in Ohio girls basketball.