ATLANTA (March 13, 2019) — The Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced today the 2019 Assistant Coaches of the Year in all six WBCA membership divisions.
The WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year award is presented to one associate head coach or assistant coach in each membership division who demonstrates commitment to their program, their student-athletes and their head coach; their impact coaching on court; their mentorship and impact on other coaches; and their professional manner and attitude.
The 2019 WBCA Assistant Coaches of the Year are:
|
NCAA Division I |
Carol Owens |
University of Notre Dame |
|
NCAA Division II |
Liberty Del Rosario |
Virginia Union University |
|
NCAA Division III |
Jodi Noble |
Messiah College |
|
NAIA |
Alexis Lawrence |
Columbia College (MO) |
|
Two-Year College |
Randy McKelvey |
Angelina College |
|
High School |
Diani Akigbogun |
Regis Jesuit High School |
“The role of an assistant coach is vital in reinforcing a positive student-athlete environment with encouragement, excellence, structure, security, support and integrity. The WBCA is proud to honor these individuals as our assistant coaches of the year in their respective divisions of membership," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Each coach was selected by vote of their peers, and the WBCA celebrates and applauds their lasting commitment to use our game as a platform to positively impact their student-athletes, institutions and communities.”
Owens is in her 19th year on the Notre Dame coaching staff and her 10th as associate head coach. She has focused on working with post players and assisting with recruiting efforts. The Chicago native was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2001.
Del Rosario helped lead the Lady Panthers to a 27-2 regular season. She came to Virginia Union after three seasons as an assistant coach for the Niagara University Purple Eagles. She began her coaching career in 2002.
Noble primarily works with the team’s forwards and handles recruiting for the Falcons. She is in her 33rd season as an assistant coach for the team. She was inducted into Messiah’s Hall of Honor in the inaugural class of 1995.
Lawrence, a Kentucky native, is in her second season with Columbia College. This year’s team reached the American Midwest Conference Championship game. She played for the University of Missouri – St. Louis and became the 14th player in school history to score 1,000 points.
In his fourth year with the Lady Roadrunners, McKelvey has helped develop seven All-Conference players for Angelina College. He is responsible for recruiting Natasha Mack, the 2019 WBCA Two-Year College Player of the Year.
Akigbogun helped lead Regis Jesuit High School to a 23-3 record this season. She is a former player at Regis Jesuit and The University of Texas.
The Assistant Coach of the Year award originated in 2016 and is presented annually. Visit www.wbca.org/recognize/ to see a list of past recipients of the award.
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.