The Carol Eckman Award

Defintion
This award will be given to an active (head or assistant coach) WBCA coach who best demonstrates the character of the late Carol Eckman, the mother of the collegiate women's basketball national championship. Eckman organized the first women's basketball championship at West Chester State College in 1969 and continued to garner recognition and support for the women's game until her death from cancer in 1985.

Eligibility
An active WBCA head or assistant coach at the NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA or JC/CC level.

Criteria
* Sportsmanship
* Commitment to the student-athlete
* Honesty
* Ethical behavior
* Courage

Nomination
All Active A and active B WBCA member head and assistant coaches are eligible to nominate any individual who fits the above criteria for the Carol Eckman Award. Nomination forms are made available to all eligible voting members via the WBCA's web site (WBCA.org) in January. A postcard is mailed no laer than December directing our membership to the web site for the nomination forms. The nomination includes an essay on why the nominee should be considered for the Carol Eckman Award in addition to a list of coaching positions held, any outstanding contributions to the profession off the court and an explanation of what initiatives the nominee has taken to promote women's basketball. Nominations must be submitted electronically through the WBCA's web site. Carol Eckman committee members can nominate other Carol Eckman committee members for this award.

NOTE: All Carol Eckman Award nominees, who are not selected as the award recipient, will automatically remain as nominees for five years.

Selection
The Carol Eckman selection committee reviews all of the online nominations for the Carol Eckman Award. In late February, a conference call is held during which all nominations are discussed and a recipient is chosen. The committee preparatory conference call will be held in October to inform the committee of the selection process.

Presentation
The Carol Eckman Award winner is presented annually by the WBCA CEO at the WBCA Awards Luncheon during the WBCA National Convention.

Past Carol Eckman Award Recipients
2009 - Muffet McGraw, University of Notre Dame
2008 - Doug Bruno, DePaul University
2007 - Theresa Grentz, University of Illinois
2006 - Gail Goestenkors, Duke University
2005 - Bonnie Henrickson, University of Kansas
2004 - Deirdre Kane, West Chester University
2003 - Marsha Sharp, Texas Tech University
2002 - Barbara Stevens, Bentley College
2001 - Juliene B. Simpson, East Stroudsburg University
2000 - Kathy Delaney-Smith, Harvard University
1999 - Susan Summons, Miami-Dade Community College
1998 - Kay James, University of Southern Mississippi
1997 - Amy Ruley, North Dakota State University
1996 - Joann Rutherford, University of Missouri
1995 - Ceal Barry, University of Colorado
1994 - Sue Gunter, Louisiana State University
1993 - C. Vivian Stringer, University of Iowa
1992 - Jill Hutchinson, Illinois State University
1991 - Marian Washington, University of Kansas
1990 - Dr. Maryalice Jeremiah, Cal-State Fullerton
1989 - Linda Hill-MacDonald, University of Minnesota
1988 - Kay Yow, North Carolina State University
1987 - Jody Conradt, University of Texas
1986 - Laura Mapp, Bridgewater State (VA)