Two Ivies Chosen for WBCA "So You Want To Be A Coach" Program

Photos and story courtesy of Cornell and Harvard Athletic Communications

ATLANTA -- The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) has announced the class for the 11th annual WBCA's "So You Want To Be A Coach" program, and Cornell senior Clare Fitzpatrick and Harvard senior Emma Golen have been chosen to participate. Each of the 50-member class will enjoy a three-day workshop held April 5-7 in conjunction with the WBCA National Convention in New Orleans.

Fitzpatrick has started all 26 games this season and is second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game, and rebounding, grabbing 4.9 boards per contest.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Clare as she looks to pursue a career in coaching," said Dayna Smith, the Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Cornell Women's Basketball. "The workshop is going to teach her a great deal and she's going to have a chance to learn from coaches in the business and make connections and network with both coaches and administrators. It's going to be a very valuable experience for her."
 
"I'm really excited that I was chosen," said Fitzpatrick. "It was a tough application process and they had a record number of people apply, so I feel really fortunate to have been chosen. I've had so many coaches over the years that have influenced my life and I want to be able to do that for somebody else."

Golen is a valuable contributor off the bench for the Crimson, averaging 4.5 points and 2.1 rebounds while playing in 21 games.

"I am extremely excited for the opportunity to participate in this program. It will be a great stepping stone for my future career aspirations," Golen said. "I am looking forward to meeting all the current coaches and student-athletes who will be participating in the program as I begin to build a strong network."

"Emma has always had a great court IQ, which has been invaluable to our program," said Kathy Delaney-Smith, Harvard women's basketball head coach. "I can't think of anyone better to be a coach an am very excited for her to have this opportunity."

The objectives of the "So" program are to increase the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure coaching positions in women's basketball, increase the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in coaching, introduce female basketball players to coaches and administrators and raise awareness of the existing talent pool of female basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching the game of women's basketball.

"The interest in the 'So You Want To Be A Coach' program has been phenomenal and we are glad to see the benefits it has had on so many females," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "The WBCA continues to improve and develop the program year in and year out and we look forward to seeing these future coaches develop into great leaders for the game of women's basketball."
 
College coaches speaking at the event this year include Oklahoma State assistant coach Richard Henderson, Penn State head coach Coquese Washington, Nebraska assistant coach Shimmy Gray-Miller, University of Alabama-Birmingham head coach Audra Smith and Duke head coach Joanne P. McCallie.

Qualified candidates 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.