IN THE SPOTLIGHT

WeCOACH COMMUNITY MAKING HEADLINES

February 2024

• Kutztown Field Hockey staff receive NFHCA National Coach of the Year honors (Marci Scheuing, Amber Auchenbach, Arianna Grays and Erika Barbera)
• Lynn Milligan, Head Coach, Rider Women’s Basketball Coach earns 200th career win
• Kylee Sullivan removes the interim tag to become the new Head Women’s Golf Coach at Navy
• Megan Vogel transitions into new role as assistant basketball coach with the Phoenix Mercury
• Middlebury College Field Hockey staff receive sixth consecutive NFHCA National Coaching Staff of the Year. (Katharine DeLorenzo, Lauren Schweppe, Jackie Mountford and Lauren McNally)
• Kim Weiss is the new men’s hockey assistant coach at Trinity

WCA GRADS IN THE NEWS:

• Northwestern University Field Hockey staff named NFHCA Regional Staff of the Year, including Head Coach, Tracey Fuchs (WCA #16) and Assistant Coach, Georgia Holland (WCA #43)

• Andrea Ricketts-Preston, WCA #07, has been named as Director of Athletics at Mount Holyoke

• Darby Sligh, WCA #34, takes over as Head Women’s Golf Coach at NC State

January 2024

• Emma Davis is the new Babson College Head Tennis Coach
• Raleigh DeRose is the new Illinois State Women’s Head Soccer Coach
• Anna McGann becomes new Head Volleyball Coach at Saint Anselm University
• Donna Ricks, Head Cross Country Coach, Carleton College wins NCAA Division III National Championship
• Alyssa Taramona named as new Head Women’s Soccer Coach at East Central University
• Laura Wayland promoted to Associate Head Soccer Coach at Northern Michigan University
• Taylor Woolard has been promoted to Associate Head Lacrosse Coach with Youngstown State University

WCA GRADS IN THE NEWS:

• Rhyll Brinsmead, WCA 25, Minnesota Women’s Golf Head Coach will serve as co-head coach for the International men’s and women’s Arnold Palmer Cup team

• Carly Dockendorf, WCA 38, Academy 2.0-05, removes the Interim title and is new Head Coach at University of Utah

• Cassie Turner, WCA 32, Head Women’s Ice Hockey Coach at Quinnipiac University has been Invited to assist with Capitals (NHL)

November

• Meg Decker, Xavier Head Lacrosse Coach honored by IWLCA

• Nina Klein, Quinnipiac Field Hockey Head Coach was named to USA Field Hockey U18 Junior High Performance Staff

• Madeline Sheils, current Associate Women’s Golf Coach will take over as Head Coach next season
• Darcy Wilson joins Brown Track & Field as Associate Head Coach

WCA GRADS IN THE NEWS:

• Sarah Brown, WCA 51, Penn State Head Gymnastics Coach will coach Assistant Coach, Lynnzee Brown, as she becomes the first female gymnast ever to represent the country of Haiti in a World Championship event

• Tamara Durante, WCA 07, Michigan State Associate Head Coach Tamara Durante named as USA Field Hockey U-16 Head Coach

October

• Natalie Benson, Head Coach, Fresno State Water Polo and Coralie Simmons, Head Coach, Cal-Berkely named assistant coaches for USA Women’s Junior National Water Polo Team

• Erica Dambach Penn State Head Soccer Coach reaches 300 wins

• Lindsey Hicks Elevated to associate head coach of Virginia Tech women’s basketball
• Nebraska, WeCOACH group member, sets attendance record, Volleyball

• Nina Rodgers is new University of Maine Assistant Ice Hockey Coach

• Meredith Roth named Assistant Hockey Coach at Harvard
• Ciara O’Sullivan is the new Boston University Women’s Rowing Assistant Coach
• Hannah Woodruff is named Assistant Heavyweight Rowing Coach at Harvard University

WCA GRADS IN THE NEWS:

• Ganiyat Adeduntan, WCA #35, receives contract extension

• Nora Boerger, WCA 41, 2017, is the new Assistant Lacrosse Coach at Michigan

• Krystle Evans, WCA 41, 2017, Assistant Women’s Basketball coach at UC Santa Barbara to be inducted to CIF Los Angeles Section Hall of Fame.

• Linda Garza, WCA #24, 2011, takes over Fresno City College as Head Softball Coach (CCCAA).

• Jaime Gluesing, WCA #47, 2019, makes the move to Wisconsin as assistant coach, women’s basketball.

• Kelley Hester, WCA #18, 2009, Head Women’s Golf Coach at Clemson University is named LPGA Southeast Section Coach of the Year

September

• Adrianna Baggetta leaves DIII Emory Softball HC for Penn State as AC 

• Amber Fryklund returns to coaching after a 3 year hiatus

• Jessica Giuggioli Contract extension

• Laura Ianello Contract extension 

WCA GRADS IN THE NEWS:

• Abby Brethauer, WCA #17 (2019) elevated to Women’s Swimming & Diving Head Coach

• Kim Chavers, WCA #40, A2.0 #03 – new Nova Southeastern University Rowing Head Coach.

• Jashell Mitchell, WCA #41, Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Football Operations – Named Rising Executive by Women Leaders in College Sports

• Tomekia Reed, WCA #21 (2010) Jackson State women’s hoop coach named to NCAA DI basketball oversight committee

• Chelsea Walkland, WCA #49 grad, joined the Buffalo Sabres in summer developmental camp. 

• Chiante Wester, WCA #14 grad, new Tuskegee University Women’s Basketball Head Coach

August

• Alexander Luchowski, Jennifer Dubow and Sarah Otey – DIIICA Announces 2023-2024 Officers and Executive Committee
• Jill Doherty – Vanderbilt Promotes Doherty To Associate Head Lacrosse Coach
• Jessica Galatiotom – New Elmira College Names New Field Hockey Coach
• Amanda Kulik – Harvard names Kulik Head Swimming & Diving Coach
• Kim Lewellen – 2023 National Champion Coach Receives Contract Extension
• Stacey Rippetoe – Riptoe Tabbed as Spartan Rowing Coach

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Michelle Brander Metiva – Brander Metiva Named New Hope College Softball Coach

• Bethany Brausen – University of St. Thomas Coach Speaks at NHL Development Camp

• Kristen Carr – Towson Announces New Head Lacrosse Coach

• Brittany Dipper – East Carolina Tabs New Lacrosse Coach
• Kenyetta Iyevbele – Delaware Extends Iyevbele’s Contract 
• Sam Mullet– First Female Head Varsity Football Coach in Michigan
• Kianna Ray – Ray Joins Baylor Women’s Basketball Staff as Director of Recruiting & Player Influence
• Christina Unkel – Tampa Bay Super Team Names New President

July

• Sam Benzing (WCA #52)-Benzing Named Head Nordic Skiing Coach at Harvard

• Margo Geer – Alabama Awards Geer a 3-year Contract Extension

• Julianne Sitch– Men’s Chmpionship Coach Takes New R0le with Denver Women’s Program

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Hannah Dingley– First Woman to Lead a Men’s Senior Club in England’s Top Four Divisions

• Sidney Dobner – Milwaukee Bucks Promote 1st Female Assistant Coach

• Lindsey Harding– Leading The Way as The First Black Head Coach of a Professional Men’s Basketball Team

• Kristen Simpson – Simpson Named New Women’s Golf Coach for Penn State

• Kim Stephens– 2022-23 MEC Women’s Sports Coach of the Year for the Fourth Time in Career

June

• Linda Cimino – Named WBB Head Coach at Dartmouth College

• Asami Morita (WCA #39) – Named Westminster College Head Women’s Basketball Coach

• Jasmyn Patterson – Joined the Randolph-Macon WBB program as an Assistant Coach

• Hilary Steele – Becomes Women’s Gymnastics Interim Head Coach at Temple University

• Taylor Wasylk – Hired to Lead Women’s Ice Hockey Program at Lindenwood University

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Carry Brown – Named Ninth Head Volleyball Coach at Charleston Southern 

• Maya Ana Callender – Patriots Hire Their First Ever Female Scout 

• Alysia Hendricks – UC Santa Barbara Settles Gender Bias Claims by Former Coach

• Molly Rouse – Named Ole Miss Soccer Head Coach 

• Deb Utesch – Women’s Cross Country HC Deb Utesch Reflects on Importance of Title IX

• Karen Weekly – Tennessee Athletics Announces 5 Year Contract Extension

May

• Deanna Gumpf (WCA #25) – Becomes Notre Dame all-time winnest coach
• Cindy Malone (WCA #40) – Named Assistant Coach for 2023 U.S. Women’s Softball National Team
• Emily McNamara (WCA #38) – Named women’s hockey Division III Coach of the Year
• Karrie Moore – Head coach of the Ithaca College women’s lacrosse team, reached the 100-win milestone
• Michelle Philips (WCA #37) – Brighton Women have appointed Melissa Phillips as their new head coach.

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Carrie Forsyth – UCLA Women’s Golf Head Coach Announces Retirement
• Robyn Fralick – Michigan State Women’s Basketball Head Coach the highest paid in the Big10
• Maral Javadifar – Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach to Director of Rehabilitation and Performance Coach for Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Meredith Johnson – Earns Lone Star Conference Women’s Golf Coach of the Year Award
• Liz Keady Norton (WCA #47) – Named head coach of the 2024 USA U18 Women’s National Team
• Tyra Perry and Sharonda McDonald-Kelley – First time two Black female coaches have squared off in Power Five softball
• Amy Rodriguez – Named Utah Royals FC Head Coach
• Corrinne Tarver – Fisk University, first HBCU with NCAA women’s gymnastics team
• Tanya Warren – UNI head women’s basketball coach WCA Professional Woman of the Year award
• Stella Sampras Webster – Lands 500th victory with UCLA women’s tennis

April

• Amy Endler & Jen Jensen win National Assistant Coach of the Year Award
• Riley Kaitlynn Fratz (WCA 47), Jan Jenson, Raina Harmon, Three of Women’s Elite 8 Teams – Iowa, Maryland & Miami – have publicly out coaches
• Juli Fulks (WCA 41) completes undefeated seaon with National Championship
• Dawn Plitzuweit, named Minnesota women’s basketball coach
• Tracey Sanders, Sanders inks long term deal to remain at SUU after record breaking season for T-Bird women’s basketball

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Erin Batth Named Head Coach Of Women’s Basketball Program
• Karin Harjo, Mikaela Shiffrin brings aboard Karin Harjo as Head Coach
• Dawn Staley named 2023 Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year Award
• Marcia Tafarel named first head coach of US Women’s futsal national team

March 

• Molly Marin (2022 WCA #51) Regis Women’s Basketball wins RMAC for first time since 2007
• Riley Piechnick (2019 WCA #47) hired as head coach of Davidson College women’s soccer team:
• Trelanne Powell Head Coach Trelanne Powell and her program have finished the regular season undefeated

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Lori Locust Titans hire Lori Locust as 1st full-time female coach
• Karen Weitz and Ashley Fouch coaching boys and girls basketball programs at their respective high schools
• Christina Whitlock Cardinals’ groundbreaking coach Christina Whitlock is working to make her mentor proud

February

• Natalie Darwitz, Darwitz Promoted to Associate Head Coach at the University of Minnesota
• Shelby Denning Sewanee assistant a role model for women in football
• Theresa Grentz Rutgers honors Hall of Fame Women’s Basketball coach 
• Danielle Montenegro, Female Coaches Lead The Next Generation
• Camise Patterson (2022 WCA #51) announced as FAMU Athletics new Softball Head Coach
• Kim Rosamond Tech women to celebrate legends and milestones(100th career victory) as TSU comes to town Saturday

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Katrina Beeck, Kelly Beck, Courtney Brinsky, Ann-Marie Cook, Dorcas DenHartog,  Cindy Farmer, Melissa Graham-Perkins, Marnie Giunta, Addy Hallen, Kathy Hipwood, Danielle Johnson, Maggie Kirkham, Carly Littlefield, Courtney Maas,  Jessie Magoto, Linda McShane, Courtney Meldrum, Chelsea Osborne, Angela Poindexter, Kellie  Redman, Mary Souther, Kari Strang, Erin Terry, Kaitlin White 2022 USTFCCCA High School State Cross Country Coaches of the Year
• Milan Bolden-Morris and Heather Marini Female football coaches breaking barriers
• Karima Christmas-Kelly and Jessie Miller  hired as Indiana Fever new assistant coaches
• Jadyn Watson Fisher UNC Title IX celebration: All-female hoops staff a testament to ongoing equity push
• Livingston Lancelot Coaches call for more age-group tournaments for girls
• Emma Lindblad The first class of Softball Canada’s female mentorship program graduates
• Janice McKeith hired as The Milwaukee School of Engineering first head swimming coach in school history
• Erica Morrow St. Bonaventure aims for new energy with interim women’s basketball coach
• Jaedyn Shaw U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year
• Sophia Smith 2022 Biosteel U.S. Soccer Female Player Of The Year
• Ashley Stephenson former Women’s National Team Star hired by Blue Jays as minor-league coach
• Sue Williams 2022 USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

January 2023

• Margueritte Aozasa (WCA #46) cements legacy at UCLA with Women’s Soccer NCAA title
• Jo Chubb named Head Coach for Coastal Carolina Women’s Soccer program
• Erica Demers (WCA #23) takes reins for University of Cincinnati Women’s Soccer
• Sunny Gelnovatch leads Women’s Soccer at Lock Haven
• Emily Kohan (WCA #48) elevated to Head Coach of Colorado State Women’s Volleyball program
• Dawn Sullivan takes the reins as new Missouri Women’s Volleyball Head Coach
• Elise van Heuvelen finds new home with Iowa Women’s Tennis program

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Danielle Fujuita, Sandra Prusina and Rebecca Johnson play key roles with the Calgary Flames, Wranglers
• Jessica Jackson and Jasmin Moses help build South Carolina football’s best recruiting class since 2012
• Taylor Schram becomes Dartmouth’s Women’s Soccer Head Coach

December 2022

• Natasha Adair prepares for first season as Arizona State Head Coach with dream team staff
• Katrina Beck returns to Illinois State as Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach
• Bethann Burke becomes winningest coach in Goldey-Beacom College Women’s Basketball history
• Elaine Jones named Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach at University of Indianapolis
• Julianne Sitch makes history as she leads Men’s Soccer team to NCAA Final Four
• Vanessa Valentine takes the reins as new Nevada Women’s Soccer Head Coach
• Sharon Versyp legendary coach finds new home with USC Beaufort Women’s Basketball
• Stephanie White becomes new Head Coach for Connecticut Sun

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Stephanie Frappart becomes the first woman to referee a Men’s World Cup Match
• Ronnie Gajownik and Bianca Smith make history during Arizona Fall League season
• Caroline O’Connor and Kim Ng claim two senior roles with the Miami Marlins a first for MLB
• Olivia Pichardo becomes first woman on a NCAA Division 1 Varsity Baseball squad
• Nina Rodgers & Olivia Soares first African American Women coaches to square off in NCAA D1 Hockey
• Professional Volleyball Federation Inaugural U.S. Women’s Season launches in 2024

November 2022

• Nayelly Hernandez-Walkter named Assistant Coach of Columbia Men and Women’s Squash program
• Lauren Korholz named Assistant Head Coach of Columbia Heavyweight Rowing
• Amanda Levens (WCA Class #1) received extension to lead Nevada Women’s Basketball program
• Sharon Versyp Purdue legend announced as USCB Head Women’s Basketball Coach
• Lindsay Widsom-Hylton named Assistant Coach of University of Texas Women’s Basketball program

MORE WOMEN COACHES BLAZING TRAILS AND LEAVING A LEGACY

• Amaka Agugua-Hamilton takes reins as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Virginia
• Mickey Grace  joins the UConn football staff as the Huskies’ offensive analyst
• Julia Kearney first female football coach at St. Johnsbury Academy
• Felisha Legette-Jack takes reins as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Syracuse
• Fatima Reyadh first woman to coach men’s basketball in Bahra
• Dawn Staley recipient of the Billie Jean King Leadership Award
• The Regina Victorias all female football coaching staff