Women's Basketball Coaches Association
Encyclopedia
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels.
The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches.
The mission of the WBCA is:
The WBCA provides education for coaches, and promotes the coaching profession with awards for coaches and players. While many of the awards are related to basketball activities, the WBCA recognizes the need for academic as well as athletic excellence and recognizes academic excellence with their Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll.
women's basketball team, but she resigned her position to take on the responsibilities of the WBCA. She would serve as the Chief Executive Officer until retiring in November 2000, turning over the position to Beth Bass. Bass joined the organization as Executive Director in 1997, and assumed the role of CEO after the retirement of Jaynes, who continues to serve as a consultant to the WBCA.
, junior college
and community college
coaches. In addition, there are membership categories for high school, AAU
and recreational league coaches, as well as international and professional coaches. Institutions are allowed to become members. Finally, there is an affiliate category for fans, parents, media, or anyone who is a friend of women's basketball.
. Other sponsored events occur throughout the year, some in conjunction with the annual convention, others at different times.
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is awarded annually to "the best women's college basketball player in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I".
The State Farm/WBCA Players of the Year award is the counterpart to the Wade trophy for the best women's basketball player in:
The Defensive Player of the Year is awarded to the best defensive collegiate Division I player.
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
is awarded to the most outstanding Division I female basketball player 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) or shorter (the maximum height was previously 5 feet 6 inches or 1.68 m).
The WBCA presents an award to the Rookie Coach of the Year
. The award is named in honor of Maggie Dixon
, the former coach of the Army women's basketball
team, who died shortly after competing her rookie season as a coach.
The NCAA and WBCA jointly award a Coaches trophy, presented to the team that finishes first in the USA TODAY ESPN Division I Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
The WBCA presents the Carol Eckman Award
, given annually since 1986, to the women's college basketball active coach who "best demonstrates the character of the late Carol Eckman, the mother of the collegiate women's basketball national championship". The award is named for former women's head coach Carol Eckman, a head coach best known for establishing the first National Invitational Women's Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament in 1969.
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The WBCA presents an annual award to a member of the media who:
The inaugural award (1991) was presented to Mel Greenberg. In subsequent years, the award was named the Mel Greenberg Media Award
.
The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches.
The mission of the WBCA is:
The WBCA provides education for coaches, and promotes the coaching profession with awards for coaches and players. While many of the awards are related to basketball activities, the WBCA recognizes the need for academic as well as athletic excellence and recognizes academic excellence with their Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll.
History
An organizational meeting was held at the Olympic Festival in Syracuse, N.Y. in 1981. Jill Hutchison was named the first president of the organization, before the organization even had a name. Later that year, Betty Jaynes was named the interim executive director of the organization. Jaynes was the head coach of the James Madison UniversityJames Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
women's basketball team, but she resigned her position to take on the responsibilities of the WBCA. She would serve as the Chief Executive Officer until retiring in November 2000, turning over the position to Beth Bass. Bass joined the organization as Executive Director in 1997, and assumed the role of CEO after the retirement of Jaynes, who continues to serve as a consultant to the WBCA.
Membership
The membership is open to virtually all, including institutions. The main membership category is "active" comprising the coaching staff of NCAA divisions I, II, and III, as well as NAIANational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
, junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
and community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
coaches. In addition, there are membership categories for high school, AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
and recreational league coaches, as well as international and professional coaches. Institutions are allowed to become members. Finally, there is an affiliate category for fans, parents, media, or anyone who is a friend of women's basketball.
Events and initiatives
The WBCA sponsors a variety of events throughout the year. The major event is the annual convention, coinciding both in timing and location with the Final Four weekend of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball ChampionshipNCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
. Other sponsored events occur throughout the year, some in conjunction with the annual convention, others at different times.
Convention
The main function of the convention is for business meetings, such as Board of Directors meetings, and other administrative meetings. The program also typically includes panel presentations including members and outside speakers, workshops, awards and outside exhibitors.WBCA High School All-America Game
The WBCA sponsors an All America game, inviting twenty of the nation's top high school female basketball players. Only seniors in high school are eligible. In addition to the twenty players invited to play in the game, an additional twenty players are named as Honorable Mention All-Americans. The invited players are divided into two teams, and play an all star game in the same city as the Final Four (although usually at a different venue). The game is typically scheduled to be on the off day between the national Semi-Final game and the National Final game of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball ChampionshipNCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
.
So You Want To Be A Coach
The WBCA sponsors a program aimed at ethnically minority female basketball players who show an interest in becoming coaches. The program is organized in parallel with the annual convention, at the same locations, and includes a "two and a half day crash course in what the coaching profession entails". Supporters of the program include some of the major names in the sport such as Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian StringerC. Vivian Stringer
Charlaine Vivian Stringer is a prominent African American basketball coach, with one of the best records in the history of women's basketball...
WBCA Pink Zone
The major charitable initiative of the WBCA encourages coaches to raise awareness of breast cancer in various ways. Each year, a number of women's basketball games are designed Pink Zone games. One or both of the teams wear pink uniforms. The event is usually coupled with a money raising effort; the proceeds are dedicated to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund, in partnership with The V Foundation. The NCAA participates with their "Calling for a Cure" campaign. As part of that campaign, the referees in NCAA women's basketball games use pink whistles during the designated Pink Zone dates.Awards
The WBCA sponsors a number of awards, with the intention to promote the development of the game. Awards are given for overall achievements by players and coaches, as well as broadcasters, administration, and academic results.Player of the Year Awards
The State Farm Wade TrophyWade Trophy
The Wade Trophy is an award presented annually to the best women's basketball player in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition. It is named after three–time national champion Delta State University coach Lily Margaret Wade. The award debuted in 1978 as the first–ever...
is awarded annually to "the best women's college basketball player in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I".
The State Farm/WBCA Players of the Year award is the counterpart to the Wade trophy for the best women's basketball player in:
- NCAA Division II
- NCAA Division III
- NAIA
- Junior College/Community College
- High School
The Defensive Player of the Year is awarded to the best defensive collegiate Division I player.
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter–than–average players who excel on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter–in–law, was established for men in 1969 and for women in 1984...
is awarded to the most outstanding Division I female basketball player 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) or shorter (the maximum height was previously 5 feet 6 inches or 1.68 m).
All-America Teams
The WBCA selects the top ten players in each of five divisions:- NCAA Division I
- NCAA Division II
- NCAA Division III
- NAIA
- JC/CC (Junior College/Community College)
Coaches Awards
The WBCA presents an award to the National Coach of the year in each of six divisions:- NCAA Division I
- NCAA Division II
- NCAA Division III
- NAIA
- JC/CC (Junior College/Community College)
- High School
The WBCA presents an award to the Rookie Coach of the Year
Maggie Dixon Award
The Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year Award is an award given annually since 2007 to the women's college basketball head coach in NCAA Division I competition who achieves great success in her first year as a Division I head coach...
. The award is named in honor of Maggie Dixon
Maggie Dixon
-External links:****...
, the former coach of the Army women's basketball
Army Black Knights
Army Black Knights is the name of the athletics teams of the United States Military Academy. They participate in NCAA Division I-A as a non-football member of the Patriot League, a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision independent school, and a member of Atlantic Hockey, the Collegiate Sprint...
team, who died shortly after competing her rookie season as a coach.
The NCAA and WBCA jointly award a Coaches trophy, presented to the team that finishes first in the USA TODAY ESPN Division I Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
The WBCA presents the Carol Eckman Award
Carol Eckman Award
The Carol Eckman Award is an award given annually since 1986 to the women's college basketball active coach who "best demonstrates the character of the late Carol Eckman, the mother of the collegiate women's basketball national championship"...
, given annually since 1986, to the women's college basketball active coach who "best demonstrates the character of the late Carol Eckman, the mother of the collegiate women's basketball national championship". The award is named for former women's head coach Carol Eckman, a head coach best known for establishing the first National Invitational Women's Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament in 1969.
Academic Awards
The WBCA recognizes the need for academic as well as athletic excellence, and promotes academic excellence with its Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll, recognizing the top 25 teams, as measured by overall GPA, in each of five divisions:- NCAA Division I
- NCAA Division II
- NCAA Division III
- NAIA
- JC/CC (Junior College/Community College)
Media Awards
The WBCA presents an annual scholarship award, The Robin Roberts/WBCA Broadcasting Scholarship, to a female basketball player intending to pursue graduate work and a career in sports journalism. Past recipients include Stacey DalesStacey Dales
Stacey Dales, is a former Canadian basketball player and a current host on the NFL Network.-Basketball:...
.
The WBCA presents an annual award to a member of the media who:
The inaugural award (1991) was presented to Mel Greenberg. In subsequent years, the award was named the Mel Greenberg Media Award
Mel Greenberg Media Award
The Mel Greenberg Media Award, named after Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Legend Mel Greenberg, is presented annually by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association to "a member of the media who has best displayed a commitment to women’s basketball and to advancing the role of the media in the...
.
See also
- National Association of Basketball CoachesNational Association of Basketball CoachesThe National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
—the counterpart association of men's basketball coaches - Women's Basketball Hall of FameWomen's Basketball Hall of FameThe Women's Basketball Hall of Fame honors men and women who have contributed to the sport of women's basketball. The Hall of Fame opened in 1999 in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA...
- Naismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
- List of college women's basketball coaches with 600 wins