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, 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 incredible this year, and we are ecstatic to see the numerous benefits this program has had on so many young, aspiring coaches," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "Each year, the WBCA works relentlessly to improve and develop this entry-level program, and we look forward to seeing these student-athletes develop into great leaders and ambassadors for the game of women's basketball."

Listed below is the 2015 class for the WBCA’s “So You Want To Be A Coach” program:

Candidate, School
Gillian Abshire, Quinnipiac
Whitney Adams, North Carolina
Courtney Anderson, Maine
Jessie Arnold, Siena Heights
Kara Bacile, Franklin & Marshall
Skylar Bareford, Greenville College
Danielle Blagg, Tulane
Destiny Bramblett, Tennessee-Chattanooga
Olivia Bresnahan, Duquesne
Precious Bridges, Mercer
Shayra Brown, Boston College
Kelly Bruce, Mount Union
Taylor Carter, Wilmington University
Shanice Cason, Middle Tennessee State
Amber Clay, New Orleans
Jenna Cobb, Florida Gulf Coast
Kourtney Coleman, Troy
Kaitlyn Cresencia, Connecticut College
Val Driscoll, Quinnipiac
Carole Harris, Colgate
Vontreece Hayes, Greensboro College
Mariah Jones, Colgate
AJ Jordan, Coastal Carolina
Abby Jump, Wright State
Brianna Kiesel, Pittsburgh
Alicia Kimmel, Pittsburgh at Bradford
Ali Lane, Western Carolina
Amber Litwinko, Nichols College
Rebekah Llorens, Hope College
Nevena Markovic, IUPUI
Christina Marquette, Oberlin College
Marita Mathe, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Mary Merg, Wisconsin-Whitewater
Meredith Mesaris, Scranton
Andrea Mize, Indiana
Bry Mueller, Drake
Riki Murakami, La Verne
Kaitlyn Pacholke, Newberry College
Katie Paschal, Mount Olive
Laura Pierce, Wheaton College (Mass.)
Danielle Pulliam, Northern Illinois
Kayla Reeves, Nevada-Reno
Courtney Reimer, Furman
Melissa Repoli, Colgate
Hailie Sample, Nebraska
Jasmine Sborov, Colorado
Heidi Schlegel, Youngstown State
Kaitlyn Schmid, University of the Sciences
Katie Shepard, Sacred Heart
Sierra Simpson, Anderson
Brittney Strickland, Alabama A&M
Brianna Taylor, Towson
Alaina Verdin, McNeese State
Tori Waldner, Penn State
Sydney Wallace, Georgia Tech
Brittney Washington, Pfeiffer
Deanna Weaver, Boise State
Hailey Yohn, Coker College

“So” participants will learn about recruiting, the administrative side to coaching, how to get hired, skill development, the importance of knowing the rules, and how to balance work and life.

Qualified candidates must have exhausted their 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 her academics, contributions to women’s basketball on and off the court, professional resume and a written recommendation from their head coach.

Sponsors for the “So” program are the WBCA and the NCAA Matching Fund for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Women Coaches and Officials.