ATLANTA (January 22, 2018) — The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, in partnership with the Alliance of Women Coaches, is pleased to announce the class for the 16th annual “So You Want To Be A Coach” program. Each member will participate in the three-day workshop with speakers provided by the Alliance on March 28-30 in conjunction with the WBCA Convention in Columbus, Ohio.
The objectives of the “So” program are to increase the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure coaching positions in women’s basketball, increase the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in coaching, introduce female basketball players to coaches and administrators, and raise awareness of the existing talent pool of female basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching the game of women’s basketball.
“ ‘So You Want To Be A Coach’ is the longest-running education program the WBCA offers, and it remains as popular with member coaches and student-athletes today as it was when it began 15 years ago,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “ ‘So’ is the entry point for women’s basketball players who want to coach. Because of their participation in it, more than 400 former college women’s basketball players are currently working as coaches or in some role in our sport. Our new partnership with the Alliance will enable us to make this already successful program even better.”
“The WBCA has set the bar high for the ‘So’ program,” said Megan Kahn, executive director of the Alliance of Women Coaches. “Joining in partnership, the Alliance is excited to help pave a way for these student-athletes to continue to be involved in the game of basketball. We look forward to welcoming, educating and inspiring these aspiring coaches.”
Here are the members of the 2018 “So You Want To Be A Coach” program class:
|
Name |
Institution |
|
Dyandria Anderson |
University of Florida |
|
Ashley Barker |
Marietta College |
|
Khadijah Berger |
Temple University |
|
Halie Bergman |
University of Nevada |
|
Camden Boehner |
West Chester University of Pennsylvania |
|
Quanetria Bolton |
University of Alabama |
|
Kari Borowiak |
Concordia University (MI) |
|
Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott |
University of Toledo |
|
Ja'Da Brayboy |
University of North Carolina - Asheville |
|
Molly Brown |
University of Southern Mississippi |
|
Brandi Buie |
Jacksonville University |
|
Shaylen Burnett |
Elon University |
|
LeTisha Caldwell |
Cincinnati Christian University |
|
Laura Castaldo |
University of Maryland, Baltimore County |
|
Jasmine Cincore |
University of Nebraska |
|
Emily Clemens |
Western Illinois University |
|
Caitland Considine |
Coker College |
|
Remy Davenport |
Truman State University |
|
Jenny DeGraaf |
University of North Carolina-Wilmington |
|
Jasmine Demers |
Buena Vista University |
|
Jillian Dunston |
University of Michigan |
|
Jennifer Dynis |
University of Illinois |
|
Amanda Fioravanti |
Saint Joseph's University |
|
Maggie Flynn |
Flagler College |
|
Danielle Franklin |
Valparaiso University |
|
Adashia Franklyn |
Saint Joseph's University |
|
Taylor Gleason |
Oakland University |
|
Tiara Goode |
Coppin State University |
|
Brittany Greene |
University of Southern Mississippi |
|
Shelby Holmes |
Eastern Nazarene College |
|
Cassidy Joyner |
Lenoir-Rhyne University |
|
Jordan Korinek |
Kent State University |
|
Mackenzie Latt |
Davidson College |
|
Hannah Lepaio |
Newberry College |
|
Laney Lewis |
Ursuline College |
|
Samantha Lisikatos |
State University College at Oneonta |
|
Adebisi Mabodu |
University of North Texas |
|
Kelsey McClure |
University of West Georgia |
|
Lulu McKinney |
Texas A&M University |
|
Camille McPherson |
Moravian College |
|
Jalisa Mitchell |
Harris Stowe State University |
|
Kolby Morgan |
Tulane University |
|
Brooke Orcutt |
Case Western Reserve University |
|
Abby Owings |
Thomas More College |
|
Charnelle Reed |
Lewis University |
|
Chantel Roberts |
Chowan University |
|
Brianna Rowe |
Concordia University (MI) |
|
Allison Spaschak |
Ithaca College |
|
Madeline Staples |
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
|
Ni'ya Styles |
University of Mount Olive |
|
Amani Tatum |
Manhattan College |
|
Naqaiyyah Teague |
Jacksonville University |
|
Sheana Vega |
Liberty University |
|
Anna Walther |
Roger Williams University |
|
Monterika Warren |
Bethune Cookman University |
|
Aries Washington |
University of Missouri - Kansas City |
|
Dominique Williams |
University of California - Los Angeles |
|
Emily Wood |
University of Nebraska |
|
Bre Zanders |
Lindenwood University |
|
Camille Zimmerman |
Columbia University |
|
Kat Wright |
University of Arizona |
|
Danielle Williams |
University of Michigan |
“So” participants are provided with professional development and career networking opportunities. They will learn about the administrative side of coaching, recruiting, how to get hired, skill development, the importance of knowing the rules, and how to balance work and life.
Qualified candidates are selected from a list of nominees who have exhausted their final year of basketball eligibility at a four-year institution or have graduated within the past year. The candidate’s head coach must nominate them and be an active WBCA member. Each participant is picked based on her academics, contributions to women’s basketball on and off the court, professional resume and a written recommendation from their head coach.
The WBCA “So” program has graduated 814 participants in its 15-year history. Of these, 54 percent (not counting the 2017 class) are currently working in women’s or girls’ basketball at various levels of the profession. A total of 53 “So” alumni are head women’s or girls’ basketball coaches — five in NCAA Division I, three in NCAA Division II, 11 in NCAA Division III, one in the NAIA, four on the two-year college level, and 29 on the high school level.
Visit www.WBCA.org for more information on the “So” program.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.
About the Alliance of Women Coaches
The Alliance of Women Coaches was founded in 2011 and has become the premier organization that empowers the community of women coaches, across all sports and levels, with the education and resources they need to stay and advance in the profession. By providing a supportive network, inspiration and knowledge, and access to in-person and digital platforms, the Alliance is changing the landscape for women in coaching. For more information on the Alliance of Women Coaches, visit www.gocoaches.org.
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