NCAA Women Coaches Academy

The NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA), hosted in partnership between WeCOACH and the NCAA, is a multi-day growth & development program available to collegiate women coaches in all sports, collegiate levels (two-year & four-year colleges, NAIA, NCAA, etc.), and years experience. WCA is designed for women coaches who are ready to elevate their holistic coaching effectiveness by learning advanced leadership skills and strategies that directly affect their personal and team success. Participants focus on non-sport specific concepts in an environment that fosters inclusion across the sports community. This year’s NCAA Women Coaches Academy will take place May 22-24, 2023 in Denver, CO and we are celebrating our 20th anniversary of WCA! Since the first WCA session in 2003, 51 Academies have taken place, producing more than 2,130 graduates. An active WeCOACH Membership is required to apply and participate.



2023 WCA RECAP
2023 NCAA Women Coaches Academy Dates, Times, & Location
NCAA WCA Class #52 Date:
May 22-24, 2023
Denver, CO
Applications Closed for 2023.
WCA starts Monday, May 22 with registration from 12-1pm MT
WCA concludes Wednesday, May 24 after graduation at 1pm MT
Application Timeline
Applications Accepted: January 4 – February 17
Class #52 Selected: Week of February 20
Class #52 Notified via Email: February 24
Scholarship Recipients Notified: February 24
Tuition Payment Due: March 3
First Class Email (pre-work, checklist, etc.): March 20
Press Release issued announcing 2023 WCA Class #52: May 15
NCAA Women Coaches Academy Begins: May 22
Application Requirements for the NCAA WCA
- You must be a current collegiate woman coach (of a sponsored-sport or emerging sport), strength & conditioning coach, and/or director of operations at a two-year or four-year collegiate institution such as NCAA Division I, II, or III, community college, NJCAA, NAIA, etc.
- You must be a current WeCOACH member. Not a member? Sign up today!
- If you are a current member and haven’t created an account in our new membership platform, please click here before applying to create your account.
Cost to Attend the NCAA WCA
COST:
- $650 Academy tuition and each participant is responsible for round-trip travel to/from Denver, including ground transportation to/from the hotel. Once on-site, no vehicle is needed. All sessions are held on-site.
- NCAA grant funding covers all other on-site expenses associated with attendance at the NCAA Women Coaches Academy including two nights hotel, meals/snacks, and training materials. Participants will be assigned 1 roommate to share a hotel room or have the option of paying an additional $278 for two nights in a single/individual hotel room. Participants requiring more than two nights hotel may pay an additional $139/night.
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2023 Academy Scholarships
A limited number of full and partial scholarships available! CLICK HERE for more information.
Interested in naming an Academy scholarship after a coach who has impacted your life? HERE’S HOW!
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What Coaches Are Saying About Attending the NCAA WCA
“It was a great experience and helped me find my purpose in coaching again. I truly can’t thank you enough and look forward to coming back for Academy 2.0!”
My time at the NCAA Women Coaches Academy was refreshing, rejuvenating, eye-opening, humbling, and informative. I can’t begin to explain how those four days have reinforced and re-calibrated my desire to be a self-reflective practitioner. I formed new friendships, found mentors, and made connections with young women that I’m looking forward to supporting and serving as they move forward in their careers. The NCAA Women Coaches Academy exposes participants to an abundance of knowledge. I walked away from the Academy a more powerful and informed person. I’m better equipped to advocate for myself and my program. I am more confident in my abilities to be a champion for women sports. The WCA is a must for any self-reflective coach who wishes to further fine tune her abilities to advocate for women sports. My participation in the Academy has helped me not simply be a better coach, but a better coworker, mother, spouse, and person in general!
– E.A. Jackson, Towson University, Head Field Hockey Coach, WCA #43
WeCOACH and the WCA was a transformative, enlightening, and empowering experience. During my time in Denver I learned more about myself, gained tools to better serve me as a coach and person, but most importantly was empowered by my classmates thoughts and experiences. I left WCA Class 46 with enormous waves of gratitude and a fire burning in me to be a better coach, colleague, and person. It takes a village to do what we do as coaches and I am grateful to be a part of the WeCOACH village! Thank you WeCOACH and the WCA!” .
– Lara-Jane Que, Bowdoin College, Head Track & Field/Cross Country Coach, WCA #46
The WCA creates an inclusive environment for dedicated coaches and leaders to gather together with the combined purpose of connection, growth, and renewal. The intensive workshops, inspirational speakers, and access to professional services provide valuable resources while also providing insight to aspects of the profession that are unique to women. Additionally, the Academy reinforces the importance of student-athletes having strong female role models and opening doors for young women who dream of being a coach or holding other leadership positions.
– Juli Fulks, Transylvania University, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, WCA #41
I cannot express enough how much the Academy meant to me, taught me, challenged me, and inspired me. I am so grateful for that opportunity and experience and very motivated to take action. I get excited every time I think about the Academy and the knowledge and insight I gleaned from it, and I’m eager to delve deeper into the topics covered, further educate myself, and incorporate much of what I learned into my coaching and daily life. I’m looking forward to staying involved with everything WeCOACH has to offer, and I thank you again for your energy and passion for providing ways for coaches like myself to grow. This is truly one special group of women, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.
– Casey Jo MacPherson, U. of Missouri, Gymnastics, Assoc Head Coach, WCA #47
The NCAA Women Coaches Academy gave me the confidence and reassurance that my current career path is the path I’m meant to trailblaze. The professional and personal growth I took out of the 4 valuable days has made a direct impact on who I want to be as a coach, but more importantly a woman empowering other women. I’ve never had a more clear vision for myself and that wouldn’t have been possible without the WCA and the fellow female coaches I connected with.
– Alyssa O’Donnell, U. of Minnesota, Rowing, Assistant Coach, WCA #42
The NCAA Women Coaches Academy challenged me to grow in my coaching philosophy, management strategies, and interpersonal skills. Learning how to better communicate with our athletes, coaches, and administration has been fundamental to my coaching success. The WCA introduced me to a network of mentors and to the WeCOACH team members who are equally invested in my continued success. The impact of the WCA in my life transcends the four-day training seminar itself. The challenges endured, lessons learned, and friendships created during the training of Class #45 continue to inspire me to choose to become a better coach every day. I am very grateful for having experienced the WCA!”
– April Sanchez, University of New Mexico, Assistant Volleyball Coach, WCA #45
Program Curriculum and Overview
PROGRAM CURRICULUM AND OVERVIEW
1) Skills Development
To provide women coaches with educational development in areas outside the specifics of their sport. Topics include leadership, management strategies, decision-making, conflict resolution, ethics, interviewing skills, legal issues, communication tactics and much more.
2) Retention and Advancement
To empower women coaches to remain in the coaching profession and to inspire others to follow in their footsteps. We aim to expand your knowledge, perspective and skill base, allowing you to gain confidence and determination to set career goals, become more competent and attain career longevity.
3) Connection and Collaboration
To provide a framework for interaction and connection between women in all aspects of athletics, all sports and across all levels – from peers to experts, head coaches to assistant coaches, experienced to inexperienced levels. When like-minded, passionate women come together in a collective, educational environment, networking turns into collaboration and mentoring, and everyone benefits.
Are You an NCAA Women Coaches Academy Graduate and Want to Attend NCAA Academy 2.0?
NCAA Academy 2.0 is now available for all NCAA Women Coaches Academy graduates.
May 21-23, 2023
Learn more
Cancellation Policy
CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY
Cancellation requests received more than sixty (60) days prior to the event are eligible for a full refund minus a 3% transaction fee. Cancellation requests received thirty (30) to sixty (60) days prior to the event are eligible for a 50% refund. Cancellation requests made within thirty (30) days prior to the event are non-refundable and may not be applied to future event registrations. Cancellation requests must be made in writing. Please email events@wecoachsports.org with your request.
2023 Class #52 Participants- Coming Soon!
2022 Class #51 Participants
Taylor Anderson | Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges |
Dawn Barnes | South Carolina State University |
Kristin Bourne | The College of Saint Scholastica |
Noelle Brouillard | Whitworth University |
Sarah Brown | Penn State University |
Jackie Bruno | Cal Poly Pomona |
Kelsey Christensen | Providence College |
Pietie Coetzee-Turner | University of Massachusetts |
Jill Conroy | Stevens Institute of Technology |
Chrissi Ekhomu | North Central College |
Lucienne Ford | Brandeis University |
Whitney Frary | St. Olaf College |
Emma Gerhold | Loyola University (MD) |
Jacquelyn Gnassi | Stevens Institute of Technology |
Nicole Graham | Clark Atlanta University |
Jackie Guillemette | Bentley University |
Maya Hayes | University of Minnesota |
Zoe Herrera | Cal Poly Pomona |
Dr. Ashley Johnson | Clark Atlanta University |
Ka’lia Johnson | Longwood University |
Mary Johnston | Macalester College |
Lela Knight | Randolph College |
Olivia Leavitt | Colgate University |
Beth Lebel | University of New Mexico |
Mallikah Little | Ole Miss |
Maria Lopez | Boise State University |
Lindsay Mapes | Oberlin College |
Molly Marrin | Regis University |
Courtney Materazzi | Cal State Monterey Bay |
Abby McClure | Hartwick College |
Kaitlin Nielsen | University of Kansas |
Camise Patterson | Florida A&M University |
Stephanie Perez | San Francisco State |
Cassi Pickett | Lynn University |
Emily Powers | Belmont Abbey College |
Margot Royer-Johnson | Providence College |
Emily Scheese | CSU Maritime Academy |
Leslie Smith | Providence College |
Donika Sutton | Tennessee State University |
TaCho Tyler | Prairie View A&M University |
Jess Weiss | Randolph-Macon College |
Kayla Wilhelm | Randolph College |
The WeCOACH Impact Award
The WeCOACH Impact Award Recognizes a member of the Academy class who leads by example with an elevated, selfless commitment to the encouragement of other’s success and an unwavering dedication to their own personal and professional achievement. This award is granted via nomination by fellow classmates.
The 2022 WeCOACH Impact Award winners from NCAA WCA #51:
Dr. Ashley Johnson, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Clark Atlanta University
Dawn Barnes, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at South Carolina State University
2022 FACULTY INCLUDED
