36 WBCA-Member Coaches Complete 2014 Center for Coaching Excellence

NEW YORK (June 16, 2014) -- The 2014 edition of The Center for Coaching Excellence concluded on Wednesday, June 11, as 36 college women's basketball coaches completed the invitation-only, two-and-a-half day elite leadership program.

"After four years, The Center for Coaching Excellence has never been better," said Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, director, intercollegiate athletics and physical education at Columbia University. "We have now worked with more than 200 college head or associate head women's basketball coaches, and we have fine-tuned our program to directly address some of the most pressing issues in college women's basketball. We had a fantastic group of coaches to work with. It was a great three days!”

Capitalizing on the resources of Columbia University, one of the world's leading research universities, and the WBCA, The Center for Coaching Excellence provides an unparalleled, exclusive learning experience. Utilizing collaborative and interactive learning sessions along with lectures and panel discussions featuring experts in college athletics, The Center for Coaching Excellence gives college women's basketball coaches valuable networking opportunities with their peers and top industry leaders.

"The Center for Coaching Excellence continues to be a premier resource for our membership," said WBCA Interim CEO Shannon Reynolds. "We truly value the partnership with Columbia University Athletics. Program facilitators Dr. M. Dianne Murphy and Dr. Cathie T. Siders do a wonderful job of making the curriculum pertinent and relatable. The Center for Coaching Excellence provides coaches with tremendous knowledge and a valuable bonding experience with their peers."

Attending this year’s session were Laura Beeman, University of Hawaii; Claudette Charney, Hillsdale College; Debra Clark, Norfolk State University; Kerry Cremeans, University of Denver; Jacques Curtis, Shaw University; Brooks Donald Williams, McNeese State University; Edgar Farmer Jr., Wofford College; Kendra Faustin, Niagara University; Megan Gebbia, American University; Billi Godsey, Iona College; Tanya Haave, Metropolitan State University of Denver; Bunky Harkleroad, Sacramento State University; Brandan Harrell, Georgia Highlands College; Chris Kielsmeier, Wayne State College; Brenda Mock Kirkpatick, University of North Carolina-Asheville; Micele Koclanes, Dartmouth College; Erica Lang-Montgomery, Flagler College; Jessica Mannetti, Sacred Heart University; Deont’a McChester, Claflin University; Michael McGuire, Radford University; Joye McNelis, University of Southern Mississippi; Katie Meier, University of Miami; Lisa Mispley Fortier, Gonzaga University; Elizabeth Naumovski, Queens College; Brian Neal, Xavier University; Cameron Newbauer, Belmont University; Harry Perretta, Villanova University; Jamie Pewinski, Saginaw Valley State University; Chanda Rigby, Troy University; Tarrell Robinson, North Carolina A&T State University; Scott Rueck, Oregon State University; Audra Smith, Clemson University; Phil Stern, University Maryland, Baltimore County; Christy Thomaskutty, Emory University; Christine Vozab, Georgia Southern University; and Ryan Weisenberg, Pepperdine University.

“The Center for Coaching Excellence has been not only a career, but a life-impacting experience for me. Head coaches are rarely given the opportunity to examine and explore their personalities with their vulnerabilities and strengths,” Meier said. “It’s such a humbling experience that the very best minds and best people of character in our profession took the time to come here to present this program to promote the healthy growth of our game and to help make us better leaders. I think that the support and the mentoring of The Center for Coaching Excellence is the very reason that women’s college basketball is the healthiest forum for leadership and growth in intercollegiate athletics.”

“The Center for Coaching Excellence was a wonderful program and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to participate,” said Clemson’s Smith. “I learned so much about myself, and I was surprised by how much there was to learn through the self assessment tools we used. The program was a great opportunity to network with my colleagues. The information that was provided by the speakers, and the facilitators Dr. Cathie Siders and Dr. [Dianne] Murphy was fantastic. The program was first class and I encourage other coaches to attend if they have the opportunity. I’m leaving energized, refreshed and ready to go – I wish the season started tomorrow.”

Siders, a clinical psychologist, organizational consultant and executive coach, facilitated group-learning sessions. Other sessions featured panel discussions from a wide variety of leaders from both the college athletics industry and other sectors of industry.

"Our nation's college women's basketball head coaches are committed to the young women who play for them," Siders said. "The coaches we work with are hungry for knowledge and insight - and greatly appreciate having extra tools in their leadership toolbox. For the fourth straight year, I am thrilled to have worked with these exceptional men and women."

"I am so proud of the faculty we assembled for The Center for Coaching Excellence," Murphy said. "We were very fortunate that they were able to take time out of their busy schedules to be with us. Our faculty is first class."

Faculty of the 2014 Center for Coaching Excellence included Val Ackerman, commissioner, Big East Conference; Dick Baddour, athletics director emeritus, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Rich Ensor, commissioner, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference; Bernadette V. McGlade, commissioner, Atlantic 10 Conference; Jody Conradt, head women’s basketball coach emerita, University of Texas; Terri Williams-Flournoy, head women’s basketball coach, Auburn University; Brian Giorgis, head women’s basketball coach, Marist College; Stephanie Glance, head women’s basketball coach, Columbia University; Dr. Brent Walker, associate athletics director for championship performance, Columbia University; Muffet McGraw, head women’s basketball coach, University of Notre Dame; Marsha Sharp, associate athletics director for special projects and head women’s basketball coach emerita, Texas Tech University; Joe Tartamella, head women’s basketball coach, St. John’s University; and General Rebecca Halstead, U.S. Army (retired).

About the WBCA:
Founded in 1981, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association 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 as a sport for women and girls. For more information on the WBCA, visit wbca.org.