Hello WBCA members!

Several months have passed since I last wrote you about my women’s basketball ventures. Another exciting season is going full force and the 2009 WBCA National Convention and the NCAA Women’s Final Four in St. Louis will be here before we know it. I know it sounds cliché, but since my last writing to you, it is amazing how my life has drastically changed in a New York minute.

Well, where did we leave off? In September, I was able to attend a volleyball match between the College of Charleston and the University of Delaware, where my dear friend Bonnie Kenny is the head coach. You may ask why I am starting off talking about a volleyball match-up here in the middle of women’s basketball season. Hopefully, it will all come back full circle by the end, as this was my last hurrah with my mom, who loved Bonnie. Shannon Reynolds (WBCA) joined us for the outing with several of her closest friends and Debbie Antonelli (Basketball Analyst) brought two of her three children. Debbie, of course, could not stop talking about Elena Delle Donne, the former UConn signee, who, in case you haven’t heard, is now playing volleyball for the Blue Hens.

Beth, Elena Delle Donne and Debbie Antonelli.

After a wonderful visit in the great state of South Carolina, it was back to the home office for a brainstorming session with my staff. We brought in a membership and marketing guru, Ron Rosenberg, whom I had heard speak at an American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) meeting. It was refreshing to receive insight and input from a skilled professional to help us tap into new marketing techniques to assist with our membership outreach and retention.

Next, I headed to the NCAA for a Women’s Basketball Issues Committee meeting, where Nora Lynn Finch (ACC) serves as the chair. Several hot topics were discussed, including the summer access model, ethics and professional development of our coaches. The WBCA Board of Directors already supports the development of a Leadership Institute for our membership and this reinforced our intuition.

Then it was off to Allentown, Pennsylvania (No, Billy Joel was not there). I am on the 2009 U.S. Open Women’s Golf Advisory Committee, thanks to being a good friend of Mimi Griffin (MSG Promotions) and Jeanne Taylor (MSG Promotions). There is always such an exuberant energy when a group of women come together to further women’s athletics. It was great connecting with Carolyn Schlie Femovich (Patriot League) and Robin Roberts (Good Morning America) while I was in town. I am still not quite sure why I am on the committee since my golf game is horrendous!

Robin Roberts, Mimi Griffin, Jeanne Taylor and Beth spend some time in Allentown.

From Pennsylvania, I raced to the ESPN Golf Classic. As a good friend says, “When summer’s beginning to give up her fight,” it was truly majestic to walk a golf course in October with the leaves changing and the beautiful weather. I had a wonderful time teeing off with two men from ESPN The Magazine. Geno Auriemma (Connecticut and WBCA Vice President) of course made sure he was on the winning team. He was supposed to play with my group, which included Debbie Antonelli, but we lost him in his own personal draft. It was also almost a year to date that I was able to have a new knee. It made me feel so fortunate that we were able to walk the course with a fore caddy. So I had a “thanksgiving knee” moment.

From there I headed back to Indianapolis where the NCAA was gracious enough to host the Naismith Board of Trustees meeting. There was much discussion around diversity and inclusion, not just focusing on women, but also minorities and ethnicities. As usual, we are always lobbying for more representation and presence for women’s basketball in the actual building of the Naismith Hall of Fame.

Back in Atlanta, I was able to attend the National Association of Collegiate Women’s Athletic Directors (NACWAA) Convention. It was a pleasure to host the event in our backyard. Kudos go out to Mary McElroy (Georgia State) for heading up the Local Organizing Committee. Bernadette McGlade (Atlantic 10) and Jennifer Alley (NACWAA) did a phenomenal job. We played host to a dinner on Friday night to welcome everyone to the convention. They were kind enough to include me on a panel entitled “Strategies for Advancing Women to Senior Leadership Positions for Division I.”

I attended the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Annual Salute to Women in Sports Gala, which was a nice change of pace, and we welcomed the new Executive Director, Karen Durkin. I will “self report” to the membership that one of my personal highlights was huddling up with Robin Roberts for a long lunch. It reminded me that out of all of the things I could be doing work-wise, in the words of Kay Yow (N.C. State), “we should never let the urgent get in the way of the important.” I have to say that I fail miserably as a bodyguard. As we left the nice, quaint Italian restaurant, there was the usual polite stir around Robin, who is always as gracious as ever even though she needed to head back to work. My southern hospitality had me taking pictures of her with all of her fans. I accidently became a member of the paparazzi!

Beth takes time for a 'photo op' with friends at
the Women in Sports Gala.

Shannon Reynolds and I then went to the Women’s Basketball Committee meeting in St. Louis where we had what I deemed fireside chat with the committee. We talked about how we can improve our communication model with our Division I membership, specifically with mock-bracketing and the format of our DI Business Meeting at the WBCA National Convention in St. Louis.

Now, getting back to how your life changes in a split second. Back in Atlanta, I received the phone call that we all dread getting at 8:40 p.m. on Sunday night, October 26, from Hartsville, S.C. I immediately headed straight to S.C. when I received the call that my mother suffered a massive stroke and probably would not make it through the night, and she passed away shortly after my arrival. I cannot thank each of you enough for your outpouring of support, the cards, the flowers, the prayers and to those of you who attended my mom’s home going service. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am close to my family and I loved my mother. I do not want to hurt Sue Donohoe (NCAA), Carol Stiff’s (ESPN) feelings, or any coach who has been in the Final Four, but my mom honestly thought that the Final Four was for her! She loved being a part of the women’s basketball community, where she shared some of her fondest memories.

Kay Yow, Hylda Bass and Beth share a laugh during
the 2008 National Convention.

As many of you have experienced I am sure, I stumbled back into my work in a bit of a fog for the first few weeks. I was able to attend the Atlanta Tip-Off Luncheon, where Andy Landers (Georgia), MaChelle Joseph (Georgia Tech), Lea Henry (Georgia State) and Colby Tilley (Kennesaw State) shared their thoughts for the upcoming season. The WBCA staff also completed diversity training, where we took a close look at the various perspectives we need to be aware of as we seek to have a diverse internal staff and we seek to serve a diverse membership. But mostly I have been cloistered with my close friends, family and my staff as I dig out and slowly get back in the swing of things.

As we head into the holidays, don't forget that Awards Nominations go online on January 12 and the WBCA High School All-America Game Nomination deadline is January 14! Also, the WBCA So You Want To Be A Coach application deadline is January 16.

As most of you know, the WBCA Pink Zone initiative for 2009 is off to a great start with over 600 schools already committed to the cause. For anyone else who would like to jump on board, visit www.wbca.org/pinkzone.asp to sign your team up, order apparel and for more information!

When I check in with you the next time, I will have attended the NCAA Convention January 14-17 in D.C. Division II and III will have completed their adoption or defeat of legislative proposals and DI will certainly have voted on a few affecting our sport. Make sure you go to www.wbca.org and know the issues! You still have an opportunity to let your administration know how you feel.

Good luck as you all head into your conference schedules. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Until next time…

Your ho ho ho CEO,

Beth Bass

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McGuff sets school record with 136th career win as Xavier tops Kentucky
Jerri Taylor scored a season-high 18 points leading Xavier to a 67-44 win over Kentucky that gave Kevin McGuff the career victory record for a Musketeers women's coach. McGuff improved to 136-61 in his seven seasons, moving one victory ahead of Melanie Balcomb's mark.

Women's basketball team reaches prestigious milestone
With its victory over East Tennessee State, Georgia became just the 10th program in women's basketball history to compile 750 wins, joining the likes of traditional powerhouses such as Texas, Louisiana Tech and, of course, Tennessee.

Southern Utah women's basketball coach dies
Southern Utah women's basketball coach Steve Hodson died after a long battle with cancer. Hodson, a former player and assistant coach at Southern Utah, took over the women's basketball program two years ago after a long and successful high school coaching career. He coached Canyon View High School to three boys' state championships and a girls' state title in 2006.

Division II and NACWAA promote opportunities for women
Division II is doing its part to help increase the number of women in athletics administration through an annual $50,000 grant to the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators. NACWAA uses the grant to expose aspiring women to new opportunities by giving a representative from each Division II conference the chance to attend the organization’s annual convention and gain valuable networking and mentoring opportunities with veteran female administrators.

Durbin nets 500th win
For the second night in a row, a women’s basketball coach reached a major milestone. Mike Durbin won his 500th game as St. Benedict held off Macalester 66-61. Amy Stifter scored 24 points for the Blazers who improved to 4-0 in MIAC play and stayed tied with Gustavus Adolphus atop the conference. Durbin has won 496 games at St. Benedict since arriving in 1985 after starting his career at Wittenberg.

Emmanuel coach wins 600th game
Emmanuel beat Lesley 73-59, giving Saints women's basketball coach Andy Yosinoff his 600th career win. He joins just four other women's basketball coaches to reach that milestone, the most recent being Scranton’s Mike Strong on Feb. 12, 2005.

Jacobs becomes top three-pointer shooter in Union history
Union University senior Merideth Richardson Jacobs has sent a Union record for three pointers made in a career. Jacobs currently has 323 made three pointers, which passes the old record of 309 held by Anna Richardson (1992-96).

Gomez Becomes LCU Women's Basketball All-time Leader in Wins With 109
In just three games into his sixth season as the head coach of the No. 15 Lubbock Christian University Lady Chaparrals basketball team, Steve Gomez accomplished what no other individual has at LCU. 109 wins. The Lady Chaps, led by a 25-point performance by Brittany Blackmon, defeated the Lady Mustangs of University of the Southwest 86-67 to improve to 3-0 and provide Gomez with his 109th coaching victory at LCU. The win places Gomez as the Lady Chaps all-time wins leader, passing Dave Carter, who coached the Lady Chaps from1983-1994.

Griner Sets Record
The newly minted Baylor signee had 21 points, 13 rebounds and 25 blocked shots as Nimitz of Houston beat Alief Hastings 69-18. The 6-foot-8 Griner's 25 snuffs eclipsed the national mark of 23 by Myeisha Jones of Oakland (Calif.) Claremont against Oakland Tech in 1997. Jones went on to play at Merritt College and UNLV.

Longtime assistant Plank takes over unstable Mystics
Once again, the Washington Mystics introduced a new coach, a ritual that happens about once a year. They promised this one would stick around a while. Julie Plank, a longtime college and WNBA assistant, was hired as the latest hope for a team that has known nothing but change. She becomes the 11th coach of a franchise that begins its 12th season next summer.

Anne Donovan Selected as Naismith Women's Outstanding Contributor to Basketball Award Winner
Longtime college and professional basketball player, coach and Olympian Anne Donovan, has been selected as the Naismith Women's Outstanding Contributor to Basketball recipient the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced, while men’s college basketball broadcaster Billy Packer was named the Naismith Men's Outstanding Contributor to Basketball.

Willamette women's coach dies
Willamette women's basketball coach Bruce Henderson collapsed at the team's practice on Monday, December 8. He was 47. Henderson was in his fourth season as head coach of the Bearcats. A Willamette alumnus, he had previously been an assistant coach for the men's basketball team, as well as the women's basketball team.

January 12, 2009
Award nominations available on wbca.org.

January 14, 2009
WBCA High School All America Team nomination deadline (5 p.m.)

January 16, 2009
So You Want To Be A Coach Application Deadline

February 13, 2009
WBCA Pink Zone Week Begins (Feb. 13-22)

February 20, 2009
Awards nomination deadline at 5 p.m. ET (EXCEPT NCAA Division I State Farm Coaches' All-America Team and NCAA Division I RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coach of the Year)

February 23, 2003
State Farm Coaches' All-America Team and RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA Coach of the Year Awards Ballots go online - DII, DIII, NAIA and JC/CC only. (Ballots due on March 6 at 5 p.m. ET

February 28, 2009
2009 WBCA National Convention Pre-registration Deadline

Attention! So You Want To Be A Coach applications are now online. Visit our website or contact Stephanie Baron for more information.

As you have coaching changes, please keep the WBCA informed.

Still seeking an assistant coach? Make your first stop the WBCA Career Center listed under Resource on WBCA.org. You can also view new job listings and post your resume, open dates and camps.

For information regarding these dates, the WBCA, or any of the WBCA programs,
please contact:
WBCA
4646 Lawrenceville Highway
Lilburn, GA 30047
(770) 279-8027 :: Office
(770) 279-8473 :: Fax
wbca@wbca.org