Hello WBCA Member!

I am here with yet another account of my travels and activities as your CEO of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). In our last rendition of Net.News, we were just heading into our yearly in-person Board of Directors meeting, held in Atlanta, Ga. As always, this year's meeting served as a pertinent opportunity for our association to be a sounding board to the hot topics in women's basketball.

Myles Brand (NCAA President) flew in for the meeting to report out on the Myles Brand Women's Basketball Discussion Group. It was a privilege to have him take time out of his busy schedule to come and lead the discussion revolving around ways to grow our game and the four initiatives that are up for discussion. To keep things tracking, one little bit of new information is that we will be meeting in-person again Sept. 20-21. These issues are on the fast track and Myles Brand has a lot of urgency with keeping these four initiatives moving.

Myles Brand gives an update from the
Myles Brand Women's Basketball Discussion Group

In addition to Myles, we were also honored to have Sue Donohoe (NCAA Vice President of Women's Basketball) join us by conference call and Lynn Holzman (NCAA Director of Membership Services) with us in person. The NCAA is a wonderful partner in our progress and we are so fortunate to have them share their wisdom and knowledge with us during our annual convention and Board of Director's meeting. Last, but certainly not least, our good friend Carol Stiff (ESPN) joined us via conference call from her vacation and gave us the 360 on the world of ESPN and women's basketball. Thank you all for your support.

The WBCA Division I Board of Directors developed the genesis of a new legislative input process, which the WBCA staff retuned and entitled the WBCA Foresight Committee. How many times in Division I do we say, 'If we had only seen this issue coming…' We seem to always be reactive and not proactive. The WBCA has put together a game plan to tackle emerging issues and trends of our game.

The process will begin each year during our Division I membership's most captive time following the July recruiting period and prior to preseason. We want to engage our Division I membership when they have the most time and mind share to discuss such hot topics.

For the first time, we will be able to present a comprehensive and in-depth report to the Women's Basketball Issues Committee (our legislative avenue to the NCAA governance cycle) with what our membership wants and needs. All of these efforts will bring us to a point of strength, consensus and unity, and will result in the growth of women's basketball at all levels.

The WBCA Executive Committee sits tight
during the annual in-person Board of Directors meeting.

Another women's basketball "fight for our lives" issue that was on everyone's mind is the threat of losing male practice players. It is important that we all use our voice and influence to have an impact on the minds of our legislative decision-makers. Stay tuned - We are formulating an educational blitz to pertinent stakeholders of women's basketball.

On a lighter note, it was great spending time with our Board of Directors for an enjoyable dinner at the Atlanta hot spot, Two Urban Licks. The "New Jersey click" (you know who you are) got completely out of control! That is only because I was not included in on that table and missed out on all the fun! My sincere thanks goes out to each and every Board of Director member for their time, input and mind power immediately following an intense and exhausting July. The Board is vital to our association and serves as the voice of our membership.

WBCA President Doug Bruno (DePaul) shares
a few laughs at Two Urban Licks.

After the Board of Directors meeting, I snuck away for some R & R (hopefully you all were able to do the same) with my own "Pirates of the Caribbean". Amidst my travels, I ran into Kyle Snipes (Asst. Coach at UNC-Wilmington) and his new wife, Melissa, on their honeymoon. On a dream vacation in Tortola, can you imagine their surprise when they ran into an uninvited stowaway? Sincerely, congratulations to Kyle and Melissa.

Next, I was off to Norfolk, Va., for Mimi Griffin's (MSG Promotions) surprise 50th birthday bash. Wendy Larry (Old Dominion) was a great decoy. Mimi thought that she was flying in to speak and would receive a $2,000 honorarium for her time and trouble. Mimi even flew to Las Vegas to watch her son play basketball the day before thinking she would get that money back from the honorarium, but little did she know! It was a reunion of sorts for Cabin 13 from the Cathy Rush (President of Future Stars Basketball Camps) gala.

Mimi Griffin recently celebrated her 50th!

My summer would not be complete without a trip to the great state of South Carolina to harvest the peach crop. I stumbled into an old friend of mine who asked me to come speak at Coker College to his Mass Communications department - my old, old major. It was good to talk to such young, energetic students eager to get their feet wet in the real world. I also dropped by the women's basketball office at Coker for a "home visit" with Carol Meegan.

Beth paid a visit to Coker College head coach Carol Meegan.

Just one year ago, Hurricane Katrina, one of the most devastating natural disasters in history, hit the Gulf Coast. The WBCA's first Habitat for Humantiy build was completed this past June in what is coined as the NCAA Project Home Team, a three-year partnership between the NCAA, Habitat for Humanity and the WBCA. The first home was built in honor of the late Sue Gunter and it was only appropriate that a house built in honor of such a legend don a basketball goal in the yard. The WBCA took donations to send Wynethia Thompson ("Sue Gunter" homeowner) a basketball goal and bedroom set for her three sons to enjoy.

Unfortunately, due to a scheduling conflict, I will not be able to make it up to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement festivities where Betty Jaynes (WBCA Consultant) will receive the Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award and Geno Auriemma (Connecticut) will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. I was really looking forward to crashing Geno's party at the grand opening of his restaurant at the Mohegan Sun - Fast Break. Congratulations to Geno and Betty for such outstanding accomplishments!

To top off my escapades, the WBCA recently learned that we received our grant for the 2007 Nike So You Want To Be A Coach program. For the past four years the NCAA has provided funding to the WBCA through its Matching Grants for the Advancement of Minority Women Coaches.

So far, this program has touched 179 lives. This past year, it was clearly evident that our membership took advantage of this program and used the "So" participants as an avenue for filling job openings. We definitely encourage your support of this program as it honors the next generation of women's basketball coaches.

As you all head into your preseason workouts, do not forget that the WBCA National Convention registration is already underway! Come to Cleveland for a rockin' good time! Until next time…

Your CEO,

Beth Bass

Registration for the WBCA's 2007 National Convention in Cleveland is now open.
Click here to register now!

NCAA cuts Stanford tree down to size
The NCAA has chopped down the Stanford tree. The Division I women's basketball committee reprimanded and fined Stanford for the antics of its tree mascot during the NCAA Tournament last March. The mascot also was suspended for the Cardinal's next appearance in the NCAA women's basketball tournament. The tree refused to leave the court at halftime of Stanford's victory over Florida State on March 20 in Denver, and the NCAA also cited "violation of multiple tournament policies regarding bands, cheerleaders and mascots" in its announcement, giving no more details.

San Jose State WBB Coach Takes Leave
San Jose State women's basketball coach Janice Richard is taking a medical leave of absence to undergo chemotherapy for breast cancer. The 42-year-old Richard is 93-106 in seven seasons with the Spartans, returning respectability to a program that had just one winning season in the previous 18 years. Richard was the Western Athletic Conference's coach of the year in 2002, and San Jose State won 18 games in the 2004-05 season.

Big East, ESPN agree to six-year deal
Big East football, basketball and some other Olympic sports will be televised on the ESPN family of networks for the next six years. Women's basketball will make approximately 11 regular-season appearances on ESPN or ESPN2 each year, in addition to the conference championship.

Stockton Receives Contract Extension
Tulane University Director of Athletics Rick Dickson announced that head basketball coach Lisa Stockton has received a one-year contract extension. Stockton helped to guide the Green Wave through one of the most difficult seasons in school history a year ago after the program was displaced due to Hurricane Katrina.

Moorpark coach forced to sideline
Sherry Ruter-Estrella, head coach of the Moorpark College women's basketball team for the past 12 seasons, will step aside this season to address the mysterious health problems that have hampered her for nearly a year. Longtime Moorpark coach and teacher Del Parker has assumed control of the program.

Rockford Names Nester New WBB Coach
Rockford College has named Aaron Nester as the tenth head coach in the 24-year history of the women's basketball program. Nester, a 2004 graduate of Rockford College, spent the last four years at Rockford as an assistant to former head coach Bob Amsberry. Nester takes over a program steeped in recent success, including three consecutive NIIC conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances in 2003, 2005, and 2006.

Reinhardt Hires Bell
Reinhardt College (Ga.) Athletic Director Bill Popp announced the hiring of Dee Bell as the new Women's Basketball Head Coach. Prior to Reinhardt, Bell spent five seasons at Maryville College (Tenn.), as the head coach of the Lady Scots. During his coaching career at Maryville College, Bell posted a record of 107-37.

Lady Reddies name new coach
Joshua Matthews was named Henderson State's women's basketball coach. Matthews replaces Jeff Caldwell, who resigned in July to become the men's coach at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Matthews coached at Labette Community College in Kansas for five seasons, leading the Lady Cardinals to a 101-52 record. They went 29-4 last season and won the Jayhawk League Eastern Conference title.

WNBA fines Shock coach Laimbeer
The WNBA fined Detroit Shock coach Bill Laimbeer for criticizing the officiating after his club's loss to the Sacramento Monarchs in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. Laimbeer ripped his own players and the officiating with equal vigor in his animated comments after Detroit's 89-69 loss.

Sulka steps down as Mercury's GM
Seth Sulka stepped down as general manager of the Phoenix Mercury. Sulka, the GM since 2001, chose Diana Taurasi with the first pick in the 2004 WNBA draft and Cappie Pondexter last April. The Mercury finished 18-16 this season, just missing the playoffs. The team went 83-117 during Sulka's stay, 51-51 since acquiring Taurasi. Sulka is an 18-year veteran with the Phoenix Suns organization.

September 11, 2006:
Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach Applications Go Online!

September 12, 2006:
Salary Survey goes online at 12 pm ET

NAIA Conference Captain Call from 12-1 pm ET

September 18, 2006:
WBCA Housing Opens!

October 2006:
Look out for your special Membership Issue of Coaching Women's Basketball (CWB)!

October 2, 2006:
NCAA Division I Conference Captain Call from 12-1 pm ET

October 10, 2006:
NCAA Division II Conference Captain Call from 11 am-12 pm ET

NCAA Division III Conference Captain Call from 12-1 pm ET

October 13, 2006:
Official Start of Practice for NCAA Division I
(7 pm)

October 15, 2006:
Official Start of Practice for NCAA Division II and III

November 30 , 2006:
Early-Bird Registration Ends!

December 4, 2006:
NCAA Division I Conference Captain Call from 12-1 pm ET

December 11 , 2006:
NCAA Division II Conference Captain Call from 11 am-12 pm ET

NCAA Division III Conference Captain Call from 12-1 pm ET

Want to get more involved? Join one of the WBCA's committees. Positions will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

Openings:

• Division III Coach of the Year Committee Region 3 representative
• Division III Heartland Conference Captain
• Division II Gulf South West Conference Captain
• NAIA Region 5 Regional Captain
  

If interested in any of these positions, please contact Amy Lowe at 770-279-8027 ext. 102 or at alowe@wbca.org.

Attention! Do you know someone who is passionate about women's basketball and would be perfect for one of the Betty F. Jaynes Internships?
If so, please direct them to learn more about our six internship opportunities by clicking here.

The WBCA is also in search of a Manager of Events and Legislation! For more information, please click here.

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