Hello WBCA Member!

Welcome to another issue of Net.News from the desk of yours truly, Beth Bass, CEO of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

Since we last left off, the temperature has climbed significantly and the summer months are officially here! However, before we dove into summer, we graduated another class of the Betty F. Jaynes Internship Program. These seven young women were a gifted bunch and made a tremendous impact on our WBCA team. We bid them bon voyage and wish them much success in their future career endeavors.

Of course, we could not pull off the internship program without the support of you, the WBCA membership. If you are able, please continue to make financial contributions (tax-deductible) to the Betty F. Jaynes Internship Program as we strive to raise $60,000, commemorating the one and only Betty "Jumpshot" Jaynes' 60th birthday, which will go toward the endowment of the internship program. Thank you in advance!

After sending off our interns, I made my way up north to Allentown, Pa. to visit with the chair of the Women's Basketball Issues Committee and Executive Director of the Patriot League, Carolyn Schlie Femovich. We had a very productive in-person meeting as we discussed and planned the agenda for the in-person Women's Basketball Issues Committee meeting, which I will tell you about in just a moment.

We also made a few major announcements in May with the election of our newest WBCA President, head coach Doug Bruno of DePaul University. The WBCA Board of Directors and our national office staff are very excited about Coach Bruno coming on as the leader of the organization. Trust me when I tell you he's already hard at work. There's no doubt that he will continue to take the WBCA in a very positive direction.

Joining Coach Bruno as first-time members of the WBCA Board of Directors are Geno Auriemma, University of Connecticut (Division I/At-Large); Carolyn Campbell-McGovern, Ivy League (Committee on Basketball Issues Chair); Pokey Chatman, Louisiana State University (Black Coaches Association Representative); Sherri Coale, University of Oklahoma (Division I/At-Large); Gail Goestenkors, Duke University (Division I/At-Large); Muffet McGraw, University of Notre Dame (NCAA Division I Legislative Chair); Sam Nichols, McMurry University (Male Coaches of Women's Basketball Representative); Donna Orender, WNBA (WNBA Representative); Sue Ramsey, Ashland University (NCAA Division II Legislative Chair), Brad Smith, Oregon City High School (High School Representative) and C. Vivian Stringer, Rutgers University (Division I/At-Large).

Elected members include: Nan Carney-DeBord, Ohio Wesleyan University (Division III/At-Large); Michael Landers, Trinity Valley Community College (Junior College/Community College Representative); and voted by the WBCA membership for a consecutive three-year term is Cathy Parson, Howard University (Division I/Mid East Representative) and Paul Thomas, Cal State Poly Pomona (Division II/Group II Representative).

Besides new additions to the WBCA Board of Directors, we also added a new member to our WBCA National Office staff. Please join me in welcoming Lisa Helgeson, our new Manager of Multimedia, coming to us all the way from Iowa State University. Furthermore, our former Senior Director of Events and External Affairs, Shannon Reynolds, has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO), while Stephanie Baron has been promoted from Manager of Events to Director of Events. Congratulations to all of you. You deserve it!

Although we are extremely excited to welcome so many new faces to the WBCA family, we also must bid farewell to two outstanding employees who served on the WBCA National Office staff over the last three years. WBCA Manager of Communications, Tilea Coleman, will be joining our media partner, ESPN, as Senior Publicist for their newest multi-media college sports initiative, ESPNU, a 24-hour television network, while our outgoing Manager of Multimedia, Dana Hinman, will be returning to her native hometown of Seattle, Wash. It's always pleasing for me to see individuals come through the WBCA ranks, which has served as a launching pad for so many careers. We wish Dana and Tilea the best of luck. They're truly destined for continued success!

To tip-off the month of June, I made yet another excursion to Indianapolis (IN) for a meeting with the Women's Basketball Issues Committee. As a group, we discussed a range of topics - from the NCAA's new marketing and branding initiative for women's basketball - to officiating and the partnership with ESPN. However, the highlight of the trip was having the opportunity to meet with a first-class group of individuals who participated in the Black Coaches Association's A.C.E. (Achieving Coaching Excellence) Program. These nine young women (pictured below), deeming themselves "The Divine Nine," are a truly unique bunch and with no question are the future leaders of our sport. I look forward to watching them move up in the coaching ranks. Members of the "Divine Nine" are: Torriea Bradford, Western Michigan, Jamelle Elliott, Connecticut, Tiesha Grave, Ramapo College, Tia Jackson, Duke, Danielle O'Banion, Minnesota, Chavonne Taylor, Tennessee State, Jovanka Ward, UAB, Coquese Washington, Notre Dame and Keila Whittington, Penn State.

After a few quick expeditions, it was time to get back to my roots and visit my hometown of Hartsville, S.C., where I was able to hook up with an old friend and well known basketball act, Tanya Crevier (pictured below). We had a great time touring several of the Y.M.C.A.'s throughout the region. It reminded me of my old days at Converse, touring various camps alongside Tanya and her horde of basketballs.

Upon my fifteen minutes of fame back home in Harts-Vegas, I joined many of my colleagues and friends in Knoxville, Tenn., for the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame inductions. On behalf of the WBCA, I would like to salute the Class of 2005: Kelli Litsch, Lynette Woodard, Dixie Woodall, Edna Tarbutton, Joe Ciampi and Hunter Low. These six legends are truly pioneers and champions of our sport.

2005- 06 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Honorees (From L to R): Joe Ciampi, Kellie Litsch, Hunter Low, Edna Tarbutton, Dixie Woodall and Lynette Woodard.

Next, I landed back at the office for a short stint; then it was back on the road to Boston (MA), home of the 2006 WBCA National Convention and NCAA Women's Final Fourâ festivities. Myself, along with WBCA Manager of Marketing, Sales and Activation, Seana Peck, had the opportunity to meet with the Women's Basketball Foundation Boston 2006, Inc., who will be the local organizers for next year's events.

Thus far, it's been a busy summer, which will eventually get busier for most of you. In lieu of the summer months ahead, I have a helpful travel tip, given to me by Jody Conradt (University of Texas, Austin): Most of us can't remember what hotel room we stayed in, nonetheless, where you parked your car at the airport or at the hotel garage. Good rule of thumb is to press the remote access to your vehicle and listen for the beep. Hey, I know it's a little obnoxious, but very effective.

Well, that wraps up the latest edition of Net.News from your fellow road warrior and CEO of the WBCA. I look forward to bumping into many of you on the recruiting trail over the next couple of months. Have Safe travels!

Your CEO,

Beth Bass

Registration and Housing Opens for 2006 WBCA National Convention on Sept. 6!

Betty F. Jaynes will celebrate her 60th birthday on September 1, 2005!
Visit the Betty F. Jaynes Internship Program section of WBCA.org to see how you can make a tax-deductible contribution to endow this program as a gift to Betty!

WNBA Has First Black Female Owner
Former television executive Sheila Johnson became the WNBA's first black female owner on May 24th when a group she headlines purchased the Washington Mystics. Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, joined Lincoln Holdings LLC to purchase the Mystics from Abe Pollin.

Rice Names Head Coach
Greg Williams was hired Wednesday to be the new women's basketball coach at Rice. Williams, the former coach of the WNBA's Detroit Shock, replaces Cristy McKinney, who left for Clemson after leading Rice to its second NCAA tournament appearance.

WNBA Chicago Team Names Coach
The WNBA's newest team got its new coach. Hall of Famer Dave Cowens, who led the Celtics to titles in 1974 and '76, was the 1973 MVP and later named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players, was named coach and GM in Chicago.

Northern Michigan Coach Resigns
The end of a highly successful coaching era came to an end on May 27th, when Northern Michigan women's basketball coach Mike Geary resigned from his position after 17 seasons. Northern was 370-123 under Geary's direction, including trips to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Tournaments.

Newly Hired UCSD Coach Resigns
New UCSD women's basketball coach Fentriss Winn has decided to resign after school officials were made aware that Winn's driver's license has been suspended for failure to pay child support.

Ferrum Head Coach Steps Down
After decades of selling players on what it takes to succeed, Ferrum's Donna Doonan is giving up coaching to sell insurance. Doonan, the winningest coach in Ferrum women's basketball history, announced her retirement from coaching on May 30th.

Tulsa Names Head Coach
Former Florida Assistant Coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson was introduced May 20 as head women's basketball coach at the University of Tulsa. Thomas-Swinson becomes the ninth head coach in school history, and just the third since the program was re-established in 1996-97.

Ashley McElhiney Joins Tide Staff
Former Vanderbilt star Ashley McElhiney, who made history as the first female head coach of a men's professional basketball team, has a new job. The former coach of the Nashville Rhythm is set to join the Alabama women's basketball staff under former MTSU coach Stephany Smith.

Niki Lowry Joins Texas Tech Staff
Texas Tech head women's basketball coach Marsha Sharp has announced the hiring of Nikita (Niki) Lowry Dawkins as an assistant women's basketball coach for the Lady Raiders. Lowry Dawkins comes to Tech after serving the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Old Dominion.

Boise State Puts Presnell at Helm
Boise State University has hired an Idaho native with 18 years of NCAA Division II head coaching experience as its new women's basketball coach. Gordy Presnell, who had a 396-127 record leading Seattle Pacific University's women's basketball team since 1987, was named head coach on June 3rd.

WNBA All-Star Game Coaches Named
The WNBA announced the head coaches of the 2005 WNBA All-Star Game will be Anne Donovan of the Seattle Storm and Mike Thibault of the Connecticut Sun. Donovan and Thibault will lead the Western and Eastern Conference All-Stars, respectively.

Auriemma Opening Restaurant
Geno Auriemma, the five-time national championship head coach of the University of Connecticut's women's basketball team, plans to open a restaurant at Mohegan Sun next year. Using Mohegan Sun's Wolf Den entertainment venue as a backdrop Wednesday, Auriemma and casino leaders announced the venture.

Former WBCA Interns on the Rise
Goldey-Beacom College Athletic Director has announced the hiring of Jennifer Smith as the college's new head women's basketball coach. While at the WBCA, Smith was an events operation intern. She helped to manage the athletic selection and voting process for the WBCA All-Star Challenge Game, which features the top 20 college senior women's basketball players.

Khadija Head becomes the director of basketball operations at the University of Arkansas, Lady Razorback head coach Susie Gardner recently announced. Her primary role at the WBCA was planning and coordinating the 2005 WBCA High School All-America Game.

July 8-16
AAU Nationals (13), Dayton, Ohio

July 9-15
AAU Nationals (16, Orlando, Fla.

July 21-27
AAU Nationals (15), Clarksville, Tenn.

July 22-28
AAU Nationals (14), Roanoke, Va.

July 26 - August 2
AAU Nationals, New Orleans, La.

August 3 -4
WBCA Board of Directors Meeting