Press Release :: Women's Basketball Coaches Association

Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach is an effort between the WBCA and the NCAA to provide an educational and professional foundation for collegiate minority female basketball student-athletes who now aspire to coach. The effort strives to ensure proper preparation for transitioning into the growing field of coaching.

"Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach program is tantamount to the growth and development of women's basketball," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Developing the aspirations of these fine young women is important to ensure that the future of our game falls into good hands."

For the past two years the NCAA has provided funding to the WBCA through its Matching Grants for the Advancement of Minority Women Coaches, and has awarded scholarships for the WBCA to use toward 50 participants' travel and lodging for the workshop. Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach honors the next generation of women's basketball coaches.

"So" you may ask, where do these aspiring coaches find themselves as they seek to further their career and coaching endeavors? Twenty-nine of Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach Class of 2005 have landed jobs in the field of athletics.

"It is always exciting to see the participants in Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach program take it to the next level in furthering their dreams," said Jill Pizzotti, Nike's Manager of Women's College Basketball. "We are proud to sponsor a program that is dedicated to educating young ladies on the coaching profession, which in turn ensures the continued growth and development of women's basketball."

The coaching lessons shared with these participants will assist in identifying, recruiting and retaining minority women in the profession of coaching. Each year, the participants have the opportunity to meet several experienced professionals and gain insight into their coaching philosophy and experience.

"Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach was a great experience for me as a young person aspiring to be a coach," said Hillary Beck. "The voices that I was able to hear from and the people that I interacted with will stay with me throughout my career." Jenerie Everette added, "I found it to be very insightful and would recommend the program to anyone who wants to pursue coaching."

Tria Yoder was more than grateful to have the opportunity to take part in the program. "It wasn't simply about X's and O's. Not many coaching clinics are out there for aspiring, young coaches to learn about aspects of coaching that take place away from the court," Yoder said. "We were able to gain insight on what makes a good assistant coach, how to get that first job, the role coaches play in their athletes' lives and even how to handle contracts."

For qualification, the potential candidate must have exhausted her final year of basketball eligibility at a four-year institution or have graduated within the past year. In addition, the candidate's head coach has to nominate them and must be an active WBCA member. Each participant is selected based on their academics, contributions to women's basketball on and off the court, professional resume and a written recommendation from their head coach.

For more information on Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach program, please visit WBCA.org.

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit WBCA.org.