TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Conference Carolinas is proud to announce that it has partnered with WeCOACH on an all-new NCAA Divisions II and III Women Coaches Development Program.
"Each member institution in Conference Carolinas sets out daily to develop champions in body, mind, and soul," Conference Carolinas Commissioner Chris Colvin said. "The WeCOACH NCAA Division II Women Coaches Development Program will be a valuable tool in this effort for Conference Carolinas in the 2022-23 academic year. Our goal each year is to provide professional development opportunities for all of our student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. The WeCOACH program, in particular, will be a great tool in allowing us to accomplish this goal and align with our core priorities as a conference."
The year-round professional growth and leadership development program is designed specifically for Division II and Division III women coaches in all sports and will feature nationally renowned experts addressing timely topics impacting the coaching profession. We will also partner to actively identify and build the pipeline of women on Division II and III campuses who aspire to enter the coaching profession by hosting “Catch a Vision” sessions that will provide best practices for securing coaching opportunities, networking, and career-strategy. Eighteen (18) conferences have already committed to participate in the 2022-23 inaugural program.
As a one-of-a-kind nonprofit organization with a mission to recruit, advance and retain women coaches in all sports and levels, the Development Program offers strategies to help navigate the challenges and obstacles women coaches face to stay in, feel supported, and advance in the coaching profession. Throughout the 2022-23 academic year, the inaugural program participants will be offered three virtual sessions led by nationally renowned experts (fall, winter & spring), as well as have access to participate in the WeCOACH Mentor Program, WeAMPLIFY for women coaches of color, live video chats and more.
WeCOACH CEO Vanessa Fuchs states, "As our nation celebrates Title IX at 50, the data demonstrates greater investment in women coaches is necessary to support their advancement and retention in the coaching profession. We are excited to offer this year-round Development Program for women coaches in Divisions II and III. One of our organization’s goals is to make our transformational programming accessible and affordable for women coaches working in every level of sport. This new Development Program does just that for Division II and III coaches."
Championing this initiative is Sunshine State Conference Commissioner and WeCOACH Board member, Ed Pasque, and Jay Jones, Commissioner of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. Both played invaluable leadership roles and committed significant time to provide guidance and insights to help establish the new initiative for Divisions II and III. And they were amongst the first to commit to having their league’s women coaches participate.
“This Development Program has a chance to be impactful and inspirational for women coaches in NCAA Division II and III. I applaud WeCOACH CEO Vanessa Fuchs for launching this initiative, and for her commitment to serving women coaches at all levels of intercollegiate athletics. The future is bright for WeCOACH.” says Sunshine State Conference Commissioner Ed Pasque.
Jay Jones, Commissioner of Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference states, "I am really excited for this partnership, especially in light of recently celebrating the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the importance of what that legislation has meant for women in education. Being able to partner on a sports based educational initiative seemed idealic in that way, but more importantly this relationship helps us work towards our strategic vision of better serving underrepresented individuals across our conference and helping those individuals grow as professionals."
WeCOACH has also been propelled by long-standing support through Division II and Division III conference-wide memberships that have included: the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, Northeast-10 Conference, Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), and Sunshine State Conference.
“WeCOACH is grateful to Commissioners Pasque and Jones, as well as the D-II and D-III conference-wide members who have supported our organization for many years. We salute the leadership in the 18 conferences that have committed to participate in the first year of the Development Program and certainly anticipate additional conferences committing in the coming months as we continue the rollout,” Fuchs added.
The following 18 conferences have already committed to participate in the inaugural 2022-23 Development Program:
NCAA Division II Conferences:
· California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)
· Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
· Conference Carolinas
· East Coast Conference (ECC)
· Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)
· Northeast-10 Conference (NE10)
· The PacWest Conference
· Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC)
· Sunshine State Conference (SSC)
NCAA Division III Conferences:
· Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC)
· Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC)
· Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC)
· Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA)
· Midwest Conference (MWC)
· Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC)
· North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC)
· Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)
· Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC)
This list continues to grow at a rapid rate as the start of the new 2022-23 academic year approaches and WeCOACH continues the program’s rollout. In addition to the 18 conferences, all Division II and Division III WeCOACH individual members as well as institutional group members are eligible to participate.
To learn more and sign up, visit: wecoachsports.org/development-program/ or contact: admin@wecoachsports.org.
What Conferences are Saying About the Development Program:
"The CCAA is thrilled to be part of this new WeCOACH development program to help our women coaches and other female staff members pursue and achieve their professional goals. This new expanded program will be an excellent addition to the already established WeCOACH Academy that CCAA coaches have previously attended and raved about."
- Mitch Cox, Commissioner of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)
"The partnership with WeCOACH aligns with our strategic efforts to provide leadership opportunities for our coaches and administrators. Anytime we can position the CIAA to be in a space of advocacy and change, provide opportunities for growth and gain from an organization like WeCOACH, it is a win for our conference. The statistics reveal the direct need to identify more female coaches at all levels and the CIAA is always on board to help move the needle in shaping and preparing the women of our conference to take the helm when the opportunity avails."
- Jacqie McWilliams, Commissioner of Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
“The Commonwealth Coast Conference and our member institutions are delighted to enter into a formal partnership with WeCOACH. Through the NCAA Division III Women Coaches Development Program, the many outstanding CCC female coaches and staff members will have formal access to one of the premier professional growth and leadership programs and networks in college athletics. Some 50 years after Title IX was passed into law, the needle still needs to move. As members of the WeCOACH community, the CCC and our female leaders will continue to affect positive change in recruitment, advancement and retention of women coaches in all sports at all levels.”
- Gregg Kaye, Commissioner of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC)
"Each member institution in Conference Carolinas sets out daily to develop champions in body, mind, and soul. The WeCOACH NCAA Division II Women Coaches Development Program will be a valuable tool in this effort for Conference Carolinas in the 2022-23 academic year. Our goal each year is to provide professional development opportunities for all of our student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. The WeCOACH program, in particular, will be a great tool in allowing us to accomplish this goal and align with our core priorities as a conference."
- Chris Colvin, Commissioner of Conference Carolinas
"The East Coast Conference is proud to be among the Division II and III conferences taking part in the inaugural WeCOACH Development Program. The opportunity to help our institutions and coaches as they work to grow and advance in their profession is really important and we thank WeCOACH for including us in this effort."
- Dr. Robert Dranoff, Commissioner of East Coast Conference (ECC)
"The GLVC is pleased to partner with WeCOACH to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX by offering the female coaches in our league with this extraordinary professional development opportunity throughout the course of the 2022-23 academic year. WeCOACH and the GLVC are both strong advocates for Leadership, Community & Inclusion, and Empowerment."
- Jim Naumovich, Commissioner of Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)
“We are excited to partner with WeCOACH to offer professional growth and leadership development opportunities to the women coaches and administrators in our league. It is important that we not only speak about supporting women in athletics but take a targeted and intentional approach to develop an environment where they are provided resources to help them navigate challenges, find balance, and set boundaries for a better work-life, while also encouraging them to realize and step into their professional potential.”
- Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director of The Midwest Conference
"As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, I couldn't be more pleased to partner with WeCOACH to provide the opportunity for connection, support and development to our current and aspiring female coaches.”
- Keri Alexander Luchowski, Executive Director of North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC)
“We’re excited to be joining the new WeCOACH Division III Women’s Coaches Development Program this year. The variety of professional development, networking, and mentorship opportunities the program has on tap are great resources for our membership. We cannot wait to hear about their experience at the conclusion of the year!”
- Brad Bankston, Commissioner of Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC)
“We’re very excited to be joining WeCOACH in offering the Division II Women Coaches Development program. I think this is going to be a really beneficial program for our women coaches, especially during the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. I can’t wait to see how the WeCOACH program supports our women coaches in the PacWest and the long-lasting benefits the program has for our student-athletes.”
- Bob Hogue, Commissioner of The PacWest Conference
“The RMAC is honored to join the WeCOACH NCAA Division II Women Coaches Development Program for the coming year. As we celebrate the 50th year of Title IX and continue to champion women in coaching, this is a small part we can play in moving the numbers to support and increase women in coaching.”
- Lexie Vernon, Assistant Commissioner of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) |
|