Two Conference Carolinas Students Selected for WBCA’s ‘So You Want To Be A Coach’ Class of 2015
Two Conference Carolinas Students Selected for WBCA’s ‘So You Want To Be A Coach’ Class of 2015
ATLANTA (February 17, 2015) – The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) is pleased to announce the class for the 13th annual WBCA's "So You Want To Be A Coach" program. Each member will participate in the three-day workshop held April 3-5 in conjunction with the WBCA National Convention in Tampa, Florida.
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, 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.
"The interest in the 'So You Want To Be A Coach' program has been incredible this year, and we are ecstatic to see the numerous benefits this program has had on so many young, aspiring coaches," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "Each year, the WBCA works relentlessly to improve and develop this entry-level program, and we look forward to seeing these student-athletes develop into great leaders and ambassadors for the game of women's basketball."
Listed below is the 2015 class for the WBCA's "So You Want To Be A Coach" program:
| Candidate |
School |
Candidate |
School |
| Gillian Abshire |
Quinnipiac |
Nevena Markovic |
IUPUI |
| Whitney Adams |
North Carolina |
Christina Marquette |
Oberlin College |
| Courtney Anderson |
Maine |
Marita Mathe |
Indiana University of Pennsylvania |
| Jessie Arnold |
Siena Heights |
Mary Merg |
Wisconsin-Whitewater |
| Kara Bacile |
Franklin & Marshall |
Meredith Mesaris |
Scranton |
| Skylar Bareford |
Greenville College |
Andrea Mize |
Indiana |
| Danielle Blagg |
Tulane |
Bry Mueller |
Drake |
| Destiny Bramblett |
Tennessee-Chattanooga |
Riki Murakami |
La Verne |
| Olivia Bresnahan |
Duquesne |
Kaitlyn Pacholke |
Newberry College |
| Precious Bridges |
Mercer |
Katie Paschal |
Mount Olive |
| Shayra Brown |
Boston College |
Laura Pierce |
Wheaton College (Mass.) |
| Kelly Bruce |
Mount Union |
Danielle Pulliam |
Northern Illinois |
| Taylor Carter |
Wilmington University |
Kayla Reeves |
Nevada-Reno |
| Shanice Cason |
Middle Tennessee State |
Courtney Reimer |
Furman |
| Amber Clay |
New Orleans |
Melissa Repoli |
Colgate |
| Jenna Cobb |
Florida Gulf Coast |
Hailie Sample |
Nebraska |
| Kourtney Coleman |
Troy |
Jasmine Sborov |
Colorado |
| Kaitlyn Cresencia |
Connecticut College |
Heidi Schlegel |
Youngstown State |
| Val Driscoll |
Quinnipiac |
Kaitlyn Schmid |
University of the Sciences |
| Carole Harris |
Colgate |
Katie Shepard |
Sacred Heart |
| Vontreece Hayes |
Greensboro College |
Sierra Simpson |
Anderson |
| Mariah Jones |
Colgate |
Brittney Strickland |
Alabama A&M |
| AJ Jordan |
Coastal Carolina |
Brianna Taylor |
Towson |
| Abby Jump |
Wright State |
Alaina Verdin |
McNeese State |
| Brianna Kiesel |
Pittsburgh |
Tori Waldner |
Penn State |
| Alicia Kimmel |
Pittsburgh at Bradford |
Sydney Wallace |
Georgia Tech |
| Ali Lane |
Western Carolina |
Brittney Washington |
Pfeiffer |
| Amber Litwinko |
Nichols College |
Deanna Weaver |
Boise State |
| Rebekah Llorens |
Hope College |
Hailey Yohn |
Coker College |
"So" participants will learn about recruiting, the administrative side to coaching, how to get hired, skill development, the importance of knowing the rules, and how to balance work and life.
Qualified candidates must have exhausted their final year of basketball eligibility at a four-year institution or have graduated within the past year. In addition, the candidate's head coach has to nominate them and must be an active WBCA member. Each participant is selected based on her academics, contributions to women's basketball on and off the court, professional resume and a written recommendation from their head coach.
Sponsors for the "So" program are the WBCA and the NCAA Matching Fund for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Women Coaches and Officials.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.