ATLANTA (Feb. 5, 2026) — The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced today the class of participants in the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute — a high-level education program for experienced assistant coaches who aspire to become collegiate head coaches.
Now in its fourth year, the curriculum of the WBCA Next Generation Institute focuses on the CEO attributes needed to lead a program and be a problem-solver in today’s ever-changing landscape of higher education and the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics.
“The WBCA is pleased to announce the participants for the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “This fourth class of cohorts will be challenged to set aside X’s and O’s for two days during the upcoming WBCA Convention in Phoenix and concentrate on understanding and developing the skills in business, communications, marketing and management of both people and resources that is required to be a successful head coach in this new landscape of college athletics.”
Here are the participants for the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute:
| Name | Institution |
| Ashley Barlow | University of Cincinnati |
| Donald Bohannon | University of North Carolina at Pembroke |
| Erika Brown | Fairfield University |
| Janet Butler | University of Denver |
| Mandi Carver | Oklahoma State University |
| Josh Cooperwood | Loyola University Maryland |
| Yannick Denson | Abilene Christian University |
| Krystle Evans | University of West Georgia |
| Brianna Finch | George Washington University |
| Michael Floyd | Sacramento State University |
| Eric Gracia | East Tennessee State University |
| Jason Harris | East Carolina University |
| Patrick Harrison | Wichita State University |
| Bri Hutchen | University of Delaware |
| Robert Isme | American University |
| Durmon Jennings | University of North Texas |
| Crayton “CJ” Jones | University of Virginia |
| Sarah Jones | University of Akron |
| Latara King | University of Washington |
| John Leonzo | Wright State University |
| Shareese McBrayer | Eastern Michigan University |
| Landis McCoy | Longwood University |
| Brock McGinnis | University of Kansas |
| Khalilah Mitchell | University of Hawaii |
| Colleen Moriarty | New Jersey Institute of Technology |
| Morgan Paige | University of Kansas |
| Brittany Pinkney | University of Richmond |
| Khadijah Rushdan | Marquette University |
| Bianca Smith | Michigan State University |
| Abby Stamp | University of Iowa |
| Matthew Smith | Washington State University |
| Anthony Turner | Southern Methodist University |
| Brett Vana | Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
| Bridget Williamts | Benedict College |
To be eligible for selection to participate in the program, a person must be a current WBCA member, must have at least five years’ experience as a coach, and must be nominated by a current WBCA member. The Institute is held in conjunction with the WBCA Convention, which this year takes place April 2-5 in Phoenix.
About the WBCA
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, 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 coaches to those 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.
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