Hello WBCA Member,

As you are closing out your conference schedules and heading into tournament time, February Frenzy holds true to its name!  Just around the corner lies March Madness, and you wonder where the past 90 days have gone. As I look back over the past few months, so much has happened in the world of women's basketball! 

Like many of you who spent time with family and friends over the holidays, I brought in the New Year in Chicago with my dear friend June Olkowski (Aventis Pharmaceutical).  We were able to take in the Tennessee at DePaul game and I was able to spend a little time with former WBCA President Doug Bruno (DePaul) and Jill Pizzotti (Nike) at DePaul's pre-game meal. 

Next, I headed to N.C. State to see Kay Yow.  We finalized the administrative and legal sign-offs with the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Foundation.  I also brought along the WBCA marketing team to work on the marketing strategic plan.  We are concentrating on how to take the Foundation not only into the sports section, but also to get some "air cover" in other channels like trade and national print publications. 

Beth spends some time mingling during the NCAA National Convention.

I went straight from Raleigh to Nashville for the 2008 NCAA National Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, the largest aquarium/biosphere around.  It is actually five hotels with a huge dome on top - kind of like Alice in Wonderland! Even though I was scampering all over the place, I felt no pain in my new bionic knee, and that was a blessing.

While at the NCAA National Convention, we had a nice "Excuse to Talk Women's Basketball" get-together with several of the shareholders in women's basketball.  We had a great turnout, including Anne Donovan (Seattle Storm), five-time Olympian, who was being honored as a 25th Centennial athlete.  I was able to speak on the Division I floor about the WBCA Foresight Committee legislative process.  Also, I debated on the Division III legislative forum about keeping male practice players and defeating that proposed legislation.  It was a far closer vote than anticipated (216 - 208 I think).  I want to tell the world that male practice players are not the evil empire of women's basketball!  (We lost.)

My personal highlight was spending time with Robin Roberts (Good Morning America), who was also a 25th Centennial winner, and her mom and sister.  It is interesting how two of the dearest people in my life are fighting breast cancer - Kay and Robin.  I would like to celebrate that Robin is finished with her chemotherapy and is progressing well.  I cannot say enough about their resilience and strength.  There is an old country song that says, "They don't make friends and heroes like they used to."  Well, I might have said this before, but it is a nice coincidence in my life that my friends are my heroes. 

After a productive time in Nashville, I came back to the office and met with Jostens, who flew in all the way from Minnesota!  They are very excited about the new Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Foundation and their signature line of jewelry, designed by Coach Yow herself.  The next day we met with another one of our sponsors, Russell Athletic.  We talked about the WBCA's "Think Pink" and had a room filled with excitement surrounding this initiative.  Sarah Gholston (Russell Athletic) summed up the impact of this initiative best when she said, "Never has our company come together behind such a cause."  I have an unbelievable Russell story to tell, but you will have to wait until next issue! 

Beth attends the naming of the WNBA's new Atlanta Dream.

As you all know, the WBCA now has a women's professional team in their own backyard!  I was able to catch the Dream team naming in Atlanta and spend a little time with Donna Orender (WNBA).  Also, while in Atlanta, I was able to go to a Georgia Tech brunch where they recognized Women Out Front honorees, one of whom was the WBCA's very own, Shannon Reynolds (COO). 

Later that afternoon, the WBCA played host to Nick Valvano (The V Foundation) and several members of his staff.  We discussed our Events-in-a-Box campaign, which will be announced during the WBCA National Convention in April.  We also learned from his brain trust of what they did right at The V Foundation and what could have been improved upon when they started the Foundation 12 years ago. 

After the meeting, several members of the WBCA staff including myself headed back down to Georgia Tech for their match-up against Duke.  While there, I was able to spend some time with Marynell Meadors (Atlanta Dream), Kelly Krauskopf (Indiana Fever) and Lisa Borders (Atlanta City Council). 

NACDA's Mid-Winter meeting was next on the agenda.  Serving on the Executive Committee, it is always a privilege to be able to spend time with Athletic Directors and NACDA staff.  I was able to attend a very insightful meeting involving convention planning from the Athletic Director's perspective.  One of the highlights was having dinner with Dr. Merrily Baker (formerly of Michigan). Dr. Charlotte West (formerly of SIU) and Joan Cronan (Tennessee).  Dr. West did not do a single crossword puzzle like she used to do when she served on the WBCA Board of Directors.  I never knew how someone could be so intelligent and brilliant on Title IX gender equity and the NCAA legislative process, sit in our board meetings and still score superior on her crossword puzzles.

Beth hangs out with Earl Edwards (UCSD) and Dr. Gary Cunningham (Cal-Santa Barbara)

It is a privilege to be involved and learn about all of NACDA's constituents, including the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) and the National Association for Athletics Compliance (NAAC), which has always been critical to assist us in NCAA governance structure and to the campuses.

Back in Atlanta, I was able to spend some time with my staff and our new class of Betty F. Jaynes interns at our staff outing.  Then I was off on my west coast swing to visit with WBCA Board of Director Charlie Turner Thorne (Arizona State) and Executive Committee member LaVonda Wagner (Oregon State) in head to head competition. 

Beth visits with Executive Committee member Lavonda Wagner.

Now that "Think Pink" is wrapping up, it is now time to think Tampa Bay! Remember that the 2008 WBCA National Convention Pre-Registration deadline is February 29. Also, do not forget to submit your nominations and ballots for the WBCA's prestigious awards!

Good luck to you all as you wind down in conference play and prepare for tournament time. See you in Tampa Bay!

Your CEO,

Registration for the WBCA's 2008 National Convention in Tampa ends soon!

Click here to register now!

Attention! Check out the WBCA bookstore where you'll find the new release Coaching Basketball Technical and Tactical Skills, plus other must-have basketball resources from the American Sport Education Program and Human Kinetics. Click here to visit the WBCA bookstore.

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Still seeking an assistant coach? Make your first stop the WBCA Career Center. Remember to go to WBCA.org to see new job listings everyday and to post your resume, open dates and camps.

Be a part of the solution! Join in the fight against cancer by supporting the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. Click here for more information.

Make your tax deductible donation now!

Jostens Launches Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund Jewelry Collection

Each piece was exclusively designed with the assistance of renowned N.C. State women’s basketball head coach Kay Yow. Proceeds of the signature jewelry line will benefit the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund. Click here to see the collection and order your piece today!

NCAA and The Hartford Present First 4Kay Run

Join in the battle against cancer by taking part in the first 4Kay Run Presented by The Hartford. The 4Kay Run will be held in honor of North Carolina State University head women's basketball coach, Kay Yow, who is currently battling the disease. For more information, and to pre-register, click here.

Maryland coach delivers twins
Maryland women's basketball coach Brenda Frese is a first-time mother. Frese has given birth to twin boys. Markus William Thomas was born February 17 at 10:21 a.m. and Tyler Joseph Thomas was delivered 20 minutes later. Frese wasn't due to deliver until March, but it became apparent in recent weeks that she wouldn't carry the twins full term. She long ago stopped accompanying the team on road games and watched home games in a large, cushioned chair in front of the bench.

McKeown Gets 500th Win
Kimberly Beck scored 19 points and No. 16 George Washington gave coach Joe McKeown his 500th career victory, relying on two pivotal first-half runs to beat Duquesne 73-65 on February 4. McKeown, the Colonials' coach since 1989, is 432-151 in 19 seasons at the school after winning 68 games in three seasons at New Mexico State. McKeown is the 34th Division I coach with 500 or more victories.

South Carolina St. coach to step down
South Carolina State women's basketball coach Tonya Mackey will resign at the end of the season. Mackey is 36-67 in four seasons with the Lady Bulldogs, who are currently 6-11 and 3-3 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. Mackey was an assistant coach with South Carolina State for seven years before she was promoted.

Wilhoit Gets 300th Win
Head Coach Julie Wilhoit gained her 300th career victory as LMU held off a late San Francisco rally for a 68-64 victory February 4 at War Memorial Gymnasium. The Lions (12-10, 4-3 WCC) complete the first round of conference play in a tie for third place in the standings with the Dons (13-9, 4-3 WCC).  

Chadwick Notches 500th Career Win
A gutsy team performance, coupled with some timely free throw shooting gave Marshall head coach Royce Chadwick his 500th career victory as the Thundering Herd women's basketball team took down UCF, 77-75, in overtime February 1 at the UCF Arena.

Georgia's Landers Picks Up Win No. 700 In Rout
Ashley Houts scored a career-high 25 points to help Georgia beat Florida 82-55 January 24, giving coach Andy Landers his 700th career win. Landers became the eighth coach to reach the milestone at a four-year institution. He joins Tennessee's Pat Summitt and Texas' Jody Conradt as the only coaches to record 700 wins at one school. Landers is now 700-218 in his 29th season at Georgia.

Baylor coach Mulkey becomes sixth-fastest DI coach to 200 wins
Baylor women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey became the sixth-fastest Division I women's coach to reach 200 victories. The victory improved Mulkey's career record to 200-54, putting her at 200 wins faster than several of her peers in the women's game, including Tennessee's Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in college basketball history, men's or women's. Summitt needed 259 games to reach the 200-win plateau.

Heilman gets 200th career victory
The Rock's 81-51 win over Bloomsburg last Saturday at Morrow Field House gave Heilman her 200th career victory. The 2007-08 season marks the 16th season that Heilman has been the head coach of a college basketball team.

Finney joins 500 win club
Kathleen Brown and Heather Leahy scored a team-high 10 points apiece and Marymount limited Wesley to 21 percent shooting en route to a 51-34 road win. The victory was the 500th for Saints coach Bill Finney. Finney, who is 500-180 overall, is the third women's coach to reach the 500-win milestone this season, following Roanoke's Susan Dunagan and Washington U's Nancy Fahey. Next on the list is Concordia-Austin's Linda Sharp, with 493 wins.

Hastings College Head Coach Tony Hobson Reaches Another Milestone
Hastings College Women's Basketball Head Coach Tony Hobson has reached another milestone in his illustrious 7-year career as head coach of the Broncos.  Coach Hobson reached overall win #400 in the Lady Broncos 62-47 win over Dakota Wesleyan in Mitchell, S.D. on Jan. 13 while also surpassing win #200 as the head coach of Hastings College as the Lady Broncos defeated Briar Cliff University 78-55 on Jan. 26.  Coach Hobson now boosts an overall record of 403-99 and 201-37 as Head Coach of Hastings College.

Glen Oaks' star Veal collapses, dies during game
(February 20, 2008) - Shannon Veal stepped to the foul line on February 20, 2008, steadied herself and sank two free throws. Then she signaled her coach that she needed a breather. Before her coach could replace her, the 17-year-old Louisiana high school star collapsed and died. Among those at the gym was an LSU scout and Veal's father, Gilbert, who was recording the playoff game at Glen Oaks in Baton Rouge.

A milestone victory for DA's Murray -- win No. 400
Durham Academy girls' basketball coach Greg Murray passed another milestone February 1, 2008 with his 400th win with the Cavaliers. Murray is in his 23rd season with the Cavaliers.  

Atlanta Dream Builds Inaugural Roster
The Atlanta Dream began the process of building their inaugural roster by choosing 13 players in the 2008 Expansion Draft and completing several trades. The list of players selected includes:  Carla Thomas (Chicago Sky), Erika DeSouza (Connecticut Sun), Katie Feenstra (Detroit Shock), Roneeka Hodges (Houston Comets), Ann Strother (Indiana Fever), LaToya Thomas (Los Angeles Sparks), Kristen Mann (Minnesota Lynx), Ann Wauters (New York Liberty), Jennifer Lacy (Phoenix Mercury), Kristin Haynie (Sacramento Monarchs), Chantelle Anderson (San Antonio Silver Stars), Betty Lennox (Seattle Storm) and Yelena Leuchanka (Washington Mystics). 

Friday, February 29, 2008:
WBCA National Convention Pre-Registration Deadline

Friday, February 29: Nomination deadline at 5:00 p.m. (ET) for NCAA Division I State Farm Coaches' All-America Team and NCAA Division I RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coach of the Year

Monday, March 3: Ballots online for NCAA Division I State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team and NCAA Division I RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coach of the Year

Wednesday, March 5: Deadline to vote for NCAA Division II, III, NAIA and JC/CC State Farm Coaches’ All-America Team and NCAA Division II, III NAIA and JC/CC RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coach of the Year at 5:00 p.m. (ET) AND deadline to nominate for RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA Victory Club

Monday, March 17: Deadline to vote for NCAA Division I State Farm Coaches' All-America Team and NCAA Division I RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coach of the Year at 5:00 p.m. (ET)

April 4, 2008:
2008 WBCA National Convention On-Site Registration Begins at Noon

April 4 - April 8, 2008:
2008 WBCA National Convention

April 4-6, 2008:
Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach

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

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