2023 WCA Class #52 made personal contributions to establish a Tuition Scholarship for a deserving participant in our 2024 WCA Class #53.  The recipient selected for this scholarship must demonstrate in her application a compelling explanation for why they want to attend the Academy.  This scholarship is open to women coaches in any sport and level of college athletics.

2023 Academy 2.0 Class #6 came together to pay it forward with the establishment of a Tuition Scholarship for a deserving participant in our 2024 Academy 2.0 Class #7.  The recipient selected for this scholarship must demonstrate in her application a lifelong commitment to learning and improving. This scholarship is open to women coaches in any sport and level of college athletics.

Our partner Hudl, has generously provided 10 tuition scholarships (valued at $725 each) for women coaches to participate in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy.  Recipients will be selected from the pool of WCA applications and will be notified at the end of February. 

Eligibility
Five (5) Hudl tuition scholarships will be awarded to a woman of color who is a coach, strength-conditioning coach, or director of operations at an HBCU institution.

Five (5) Hudl tuition scholarships will be awarded to coaches from the following Hudl priority sports: football, basketball, volleyball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, baseball, rugby, & ice hockey.

Our longtime partner Athlete Assessments, has generously provided one (1) full Academy scholarship for a woman coach to participate in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, cost free! This scholarship covers Academy tuition, round-trip flight (up to $500), two nights hotel accommodation, and on-site meals. The recipient will be selected from the 2024 WCA applications and will be notified at the end of February 2024. The selected scholarship recipient will have the opportunity to meet scholarship donor Liz Masen, CEO of Athlete Assessments, as she continues to serve on our Academy Faculty for the 15th year.

Eligibility
This scholarship is open to coaches from all sports, levels, positions, and experience, the only thing we ask is that you value and put emphasis on developing the people side of your coaching. In your application, please share how developing the people side of your coaching would or has enhanced your performance as a coach.

This scholarship created in memory of Brianna Barry, who was an assistant volleyball coach at George Washington University, and a 2016 NCAA Women Coaches Academy Graduate, will be awarded annually to an assistant woman volleyball coach at the NCAA Division I, II, or III level to attend the NCAA Women Coaches Academy. The memorial scholarship includes full tuition and a travel stipend.

The recipient will be selected from the 2024 WCA applications and will be notified at the end of February.

The partial scholarship, presented in partnership with the Natasha Watley Foundation (NWF) and the Glasco Family, is awarded to a woman assistant softball coach in the first five years of her career at the NCAA Division I, II, or III level.

The recipient will be selected from the 2023 WCA applications and will be notified at the end of February.

Dr. Christine Grant & Dr. Charlotte West were nationally renowned athletics leaders in both the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and the NCAA, influencers and advocates for Title IX, and passionate and persuasive trailblazers who sought respect, opportunity and equality for women in sports. From the beginning of the Women Coaches Academies in 2003, Dr. Grant served as a faculty member presenting on Title IX, and Dr. West presented on the history of women’s sports. Both enlightened coaches on the progress made before and after passage of Title IX in 1972, and the equality efforts still needed. They blazed a trail we need to follow. Sadly, we lost Dr. Grant on December 31, 2021.

Multiple Academy tuition scholarships (valued at $725 each) and/or travel stipends (up to $500) will be awarded to women coaches with financial need who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to gender equity and the importance of mentoring the next generation of athletes and women in athletics. Recipients will be selected from WCA applications based on the eligibility criteria below and will be notified at the end of February.

(Judith M. Sweet, scholarship donor, WeCOACH Co-Founder, UC San Diego Director of Athletics 1975-2000, NCAA Membership President 1991-92, NACWAA (Women Leaders in Sports) President 2000-01, current gender-equity advocate, and volunteer wish granter for Make-a-Wish.)

Eligibility
The Dr. Christine Grant & Dr. Charlotte West Honorary Scholarships will be awarded to collegiate women coaches with financial need who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to gender equity and the importance of mentoring the next generation of athletes and women in athletics.

The Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) has generously provided a tuition scholarship (valued at $725) that will be awarded to a current IWLCA member to participate in the 2024 Women Coaches Academy. The IWLCA believes in coaching at its highest level, and supporting those we mentor in the same way. Recipients will be selected from WCA applications based on the eligibility criteria below and will be notified at the end of February.

Eligibility
Recipient must be an intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coach who is a current member of the IWLCA.

Elizabeth M. King, former WeCOACH Board Member and President (2021), has generously provided two (2) full Academy scholarships for women coaches to participate in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy cost free! A full scholarship covers Academy tuition, round-trip flight (up to $500), two nights hotel and on-site meals.

Elizabeth is the managing partner of Elizabeth M. King Consulting, LLC, specializing in HR Management consulting, leadership, and coaching. In 2017, she retired as the Vice President of Human Resources Solutions and Services for Starbucks Corporation. During her tenure, Starbucks grew from 1,100 to 24,400 coffee shops in 4 countries to now 74 plus countries. Elizabeth is a graduate of Bellefonte Area High School and The Pennsylvania State University where she competed in softball. A champion for supporting and advancing women, she still serves as a mentor to Nittany Lion student-athletes and is an active participant in the WeCOACH Mentor Program.

The Elizabeth M. King Academy Scholarships will be awarded to collegiate women coaches in softball who gives tirelessly of their time and talents to serve and impact others. Recipients will be selected from the 2024 WCA applications and will be notified at the end of February 2024. 

Legends of the Ball, Inc. is proud to sponsor two (2) Academy Tuition Scholarships (value is $725 each). As multiple trailblazers of Title IX, the AIAW, and the WBL (1st women’s professional basketball league in the United States), we have had a close-up view of the growth of women and girls in sports at every level over the past fifty years, and particularly in our sport of basketball.  Even more significant is the impact our trailblazer group has had as coaches. Collectively we have over “1000 Plus” years of coaching. Our LOB, Inc. board alone has one hundred and fifty years of coaching experience. Our mission is to promote the historic and social relevance of the WBL to inspire future generations to break through barriers, realize their potential, and become leaders for positive change. Sponsoring established or aspiring coaches is one way we embrace our mantra of “Passing it on … Paying it forward.

The LOB, Inc. Tuition Scholarships will be awarded to African American coaches at NCAA Division I, II, or III institutions. Priority will be given to women’s basketball coaches.  Recipients will be selected from the 2024 Academy applications and will be notified at the end of February 2024.

Maria Lopez, a former collegiate tennis coach is providing a tuition scholarship for a woman coach to participate in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy.  Maria currently serves as Senior Director of Memberships & Inclusion for WeCOACH and is a 2022 WCA Class #51 graduate.  This scholarship will be awarded to a deserving coach from any sport and level of college athletics currently facing unique challenges in the profession and seeking inspiration, community support, and a transformational experience to continue in the profession.

The recipient will be selected from the 2024 WCA applications and notified at the end of February.

Rachelle Manning, WeCOACH Board Member and Director–Sporting Good Channel at SanMar, has generously provided an Academy tuition scholarship for a woman coach to participate in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy! Rachelle played softball and basketball at Sacramento State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Business. She also holds a master’s degree in Marketing and Administration from the University of Tennessee. Her 1995 master’s thesis entitled Marketing Intercollegiate Women’s Softball: Important Considerations was used to support the newly formed softball program at the University of Tennessee and other SEC programs.

The Rachelle Manning Tuition Scholarship will be awarded to a woman coach with financial need who provides a compelling response to what they hope to gain from attending our transformational Academy. Recipients will be selected from the 2024 WCA applications and will be notified at the end of February 2024. 

Lauren McLelland was a former captain & women’s soccer player of mine at Lees-McRae College who exemplified a Servant Leader to her team and everyone who met her.  She lived out 3 attributes as a student-athlete for four years and then later in the Navy: Loving, Serving, & Caring. We lost her to suicide in August of 2023.  (Renee Lopez Academy, Scholarship Donor)

 This Lauren McLelland tuition scholarship will be awarded to a collegiate soccer coach who lives out the attributes of loving, serving, & caring just as Lauren did. Recipients will be selected from the 2024 WCA applications and will be notified February 23, 2024. 

Ms. Waunita Small began her teaching career at East H.S. in Kansas City, MO in 1962 and served in the KCMO Public School District (KCPS) for 43 years. The first 10 years of her career, KCPS did not have interscholastic sports programs for girls. Seeing the inequity, Ms. Small started AAU girls basketball and softball teams that competed in the KCMO/KCKS park districts. She provided transportation, tournament fees, meals and secured practice space, including the Thornberry Boys and Girls Club. Her AAU basketball teams were the first girls sports group to practice in the Thornberry facility. Ms. Small continued her career at Northeast H.S. as a P.E. teacher, coach and AD. She was inducted into the NEHS Athletic HOF in 2017.  She enriched the lives of girls through sports, including me, my sister and many more. She provided us the opportunity to play sports prior to Title IX law, paving the way for us to earn college scholarships. I often give thanks to Coach Marian Washington for changing my life with a scholarship to the University of Kansas. Coach Waunita Small put me in a position for her to make that change. We are honored to provide this scholarship in Coach Small’s name. (Kevin & Adrian Newell Charitable Gift Fund).

This Waunita Small tuition scholarship will be awarded to an African American collegiate coach. Recipients will be selected from the 2024 WCA applications and will be notified February 23, 2024. 

Coach C. Vivian Stringer has been a pioneer, visionary, and leader during her four decades on the hardwood and her extraordinary achievements in women’s college basketball solidify her as one of the most influential and successful coaches in NCAA history. Stringer holds the distinction of being the first coach in NCAA history to lead three different women’s programs to the NCAA Final Four. She achieved this milestone with Rutgers in 2000 and 2007, the University of Iowa in 1993, and Cheyney State College (now Cheyney University of Pennsylvania) in 1982.  Her Cheyney State Lady Wolves team remains the only HBCU program, women’s or men’s, to appear in an NCAA Division I Final Four or National Championship game. She surpassed the monumental 1,000 career victory mark in November 2018, the fifth NCAA Division I women’s basketball coach and the first African American coach to reach the milestone. She retired ranked fifth all-time in NCAA women’s basketball history with 1,055 career victories and became the NCAA record holder with 37 seasons of 20 or more victories. She was honored as the Naismith National Coach of the Year for women’s basketball in 1993, and in 2020 received the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. Additionally, Coach Stringer has been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame including the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2001) and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame (2009), further solidifying her legacy as a coaching legend. (Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Scholarship Donor, former WeCOACH Board Member, Senior Partner, The PICTOR Group)

The C. Vivian Stringer Honorary Tuition Scholarship will be awarded to a woman of color basketball coach. Recipients will be selected from the 2024 WCA applications and will be notified at the end of February 2024. 

Ann Walker, WeCOACH Board Member and President-Elect, has generously provided two (2) full Academy scholarships as well as one (1) Tuition Scholarship for women coaches to participate in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy! A full scholarship covers Academy tuition, round-trip flight (up to $500), two nights hotel and on-site meals. Ann is a passionate and experienced leader who spent over 30 years leading in the world of coaching, administration, and in the non-profit sector.  She semi-retired in 2019 but still pursues her personal commitment to help grow women in leadership positions in coaching, teaching, and administration.  Walker has participated in sports her entire life and is currently an avid golfer.  She was an All-American basketball and All-District softball athlete at Northwestern College (Iowa,) where she received a B.A. in 1987.  She also holds a M.A. in sport psychology from the University of Iowa (’95).  She and her partner Lisa reside in both Vancouver, WA and Palm Desert, CA.

The Ann Walker Academy Scholarships will be awarded to collegiate women coaches with financial need who provide compelling responses to what they hope to gain from attending our transformational Academies. Recipients will be selected from the 2024 WCA applications and will be notified at the end of February 2024.