Sports
Three PSAC coaches to attend 2025 NCAA/WeCOACH Women Coaches Academy
*ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RELEASE COURTESY WeCOACH*
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference coaches will attend this year’s NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA), hosted by WeCOACH: Clarion Men’s and Women’s Swimming head coach Brehan Kelley, Millersville Field Hockey assistant coach Erica Metz, and Kutztown Women’s Soccer assistant coach Madeline Reed. Reed was also the recipient of the Margueritte Aozasa Legacy Coach Academy Scholarship, awarded as one of multiple legacy scholarships that honor the memory of the trailblazing women coaches who came before.
Set to take place May 18-21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado and hosted in collaboration with the NCAA, the WeCOACH Academies offer multi-day transformational experiences focused on leadership development and personal growth for women coaches from all sports and collegiate levels, including both two-year and four-year institutions.
A total of 103 women coaches will convene in Denver, with 85 participating in WCA and 18 engaging in the advanced Academy 2.0 program.
These women represent 24 different sports and come from a diverse range of institutions including NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, NAIA, 3C2A, NJCAA, and NWAC.
“The NCAA is proud to continue its partnership with WeCOACH to host the 2025 NCAA Women Coaches Academy and NCAA Academy 2.0,” said DeeDee Merritt, NCAA Managing Director of Leadership Development. “The NCAA remains committed to educating and empowering student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrators through transformative experiences that foster effective leadership, promote inclusive excellence, and strengthen the college sports landscape. These academies align seamlessly with our mission and have consistently delivered meaningful outcomes in the support, advancement, and retention of women coaches in collegiate athletics. WeCOACH continues to be an invaluable partner in providing development and community for women coaches. Through collaborations like this, we are able to expand our reach and deepen our impact.”
A highlight of this year’s Academies will be the presentation of the 2024-25 Lifetime Achievement Awards, presented by Jostens, recognizing five outstanding women coaches for their enduring impact on the profession. Attendees will also gain insights and inspiration during a keynote conversation with the honorees.
“The Academy experience is nothing short of transformational,” said Vanessa Fuchs, CEO of WeCOACH. “Our participants leave feeling renewed and equipped with tools, strategies, and a powerful sisterhood of support. Data shows our graduates remain in the coaching profession at rates well above the national average—and that’s the kind of impact we aim to scale. Thanks to our generous donors, we’re proud to have awarded more than $39,000 in scholarship funding for Denver participants to expand access and support participation.”
Since its inception, more than 2,300 coaches have graduated from the NCAA WCA. The program centers on holistic leadership development, providing women coaches with the skills, confidence, and community to elevate their effectiveness both personally and professionally. Academy 2.0, an advanced program exclusively for WCA alumnae, offers a deeper dive into leadership and professional growth in a highly interactive, small-group setting.
WeCOACH extends deep gratitude to the NCAA for its longstanding support. WeCOACH also wants to extend thanks to this year’s generous Academy Partners whose support makes these programs possible: Gatorade, Hudl, Marines, Simple Modern, Jostens, Alex Morgan Foundation, Athlete Assessments, Bakline, Betsy Butterick – the Coaches’ Coach, Equitable Advisors – Latrice Smith, Legends of the Ball, Natasha Watley Foundation, NOX, Return on Inclusion, The Sports Bra Project, This One Media, and Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport.
Several conferences and sport associations also stepped up to support our Academies as sponsors: Atlantic 10 Conference, Big Ten Conference, College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC), Horizon League, Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA), Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA), National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), Pac-12 Conference, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), and Sunshine State Conference (SSC).
May 19-21 NCAA Women Coaches Academy Class #54 Participants:
Claire Abele | Butte College – Head Coach, Soccer
Devan Acosta | Hanover College – Head Coach, Golf
Lindsay Allman | Florida State University – Associate Head Coach, Volleyball
Lauryn Andrew | Concordia University-Irvine – Graduate Assistant Coach, Volleyball
Miranda Armstrong | Pomona-Pitzer Colleges – Associate Head Coach, Soccer
Sloane Baumgartner | Elmhurst University – Head Coach, Lacrosse
Emily Bitka | Daemen University – Head Coach, Lacrosse
Jenn Blomme | Whitman College – Head Coach, Swimming
Eileen Bringman | Cornell University – Associate Head Coach, Swimming & Diving
Laura Broderick | Yale University – Assistant Coach, Cross Country, Track & Field
Jasmine Brown | Oberlin College – Head Coach, Volleyball
Lynnzee Brown | Pennsylvania State University – Assistant Coach, Gymnastics
Daiysa Burrell | Norfolk State University – Assistant Coach, XC, Track & Field
Kendra Bush | Rochester Institute of Technology – Assistant Coach, XC, Track & Field
Karen Byers | Seattle Pacific University – Head Coach, Basketball
Jasmine Chambers | South Carolina State University – Assistant Coach, Volleyball
Erin Chrissobolis | Ohio Northern University – Assistant Coach, Swimming & Diving
Adeline Chung-Feder | Wagner College – Assistant Coach, Fencing
Shannon Coughlin | UW Green Bay – Assistant Coach, Volleyball
Alexandria Courtney | Minot State University – Head Coach, Volleyball
Vinsetta Covington | Kentucky State University – Assistant Coach, Basketball
Chloe Curtis | Loyola Marymount University – Head Coach, XC, Track & Field
Jeanne Czipri | Central College (Iowa) – Head Coach, Volleyball
Jessica Darmelio | Carmel High School – Head Coach, Basketball
Arla Davis | McDaniel College – Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
Melissa DeVore | Coker University – Head Coach, Basketball
Amy Donovan | University of Alaska Fairbanks – Head Coach, Basketball
Kaycie Dunkerley | Lewis & Clark College – Assistant Coach, Basketball
Maisie Elston | Mount St. Joseph University – Head Coach, Basketball
Catherine Ely | Bryn Mawr College – Head Coach, Crew
Uloma Enyogasi | Lynn University – Assistant Coach, Basketball
Alyxx Estrada | Regis University – Assistant Coach, Softball
Amanda Evans | New Mexico Highlands University – Head Coach, Soccer
Hillary Fitts | Hofstra University – Head Coach, Field Hockey
Allison Fordyce | Susquehanna University – Head Coach, Field Hockey
Marissa Fortuna | St. Lawrence University – Graduate Assistant Coach, Soccer
Lindsey Garcia | Occidental College – Head Coach, Water Polo
Mahogany Green | Hamilton College – Head Coach, Basketball
Katie Guns | St. Norbert College – Head Coach, Soccer
Elyssa Hawkins | Biola University – Assistant Coach, Water Polo
Madison Heck | Virginia Wesleyan University – Head Coach, Lacrosse
Shirlynn Hight | Talladega College – Head Coach, Acrobatics & Tumbling
Gabrielle Holko | Susquehanna University – Head Coach, Basketball
Katie Horton | Florida State University – Director of Operations, Beach Volleyball
Cornysia Island | University of Arkansas – Pine Bluff – Assistant Coach, Volleyball
Kellis Johnson | Dominican University – Assistant Coach, Soccer
Jenna Kalwa | University of Saint Joseph – Head Coach, Soccer
Maile’ana Kanewa-Hermelyn | University of Michigan – Assistant Coach, Gymnastics
Brehan Kelley | PennWest Clarion – Head Coach, Swimming
Abigail Kemble | Eastern University – Head Coach, Field Hockey
Nina Klein | Quinnipiac University – Head Coach, Field Hockey
Megan Kronschnabel | Claremont Mudd Scripps – Assistant Coach, Volleyball
Courtney Kust | Hope College – Associate Head Coach, Basketball
Moneshia McKenney | Clemson University – Assistant Coach, Volleyball
Erica Metz | Millersville University – Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
Baylee Mires | University of Louisville – Assistant Coach, XC, Track & Field
Brittney Morris | St. Mary’s College of Maryland – Head Coach, Lacrosse
Raina Nolan | Emmanuel University – Head Coach, Acrobatics & Tumbling
Haley Overstreet | Sewanee, The University of the South – Head Coach, Field Hockey
Sara Pasour | University of North Carolina at Pembroke – Assistant Coach, Volleyball
Kate Pearson | Rowan University – Head Coach, Basketball
Ana Pego | Quinnipiac University – Assistant Coach, Volleyball
Barbara Perkins | University of Denver – Head Coach, Triathlon
Megan Rabenberg | Loyola University Maryland – Assistant Coach, Rowing
Madeline Reed | Kutztown University – Assistant Coach, Soccer
Erin Reeves | Colby College – Head Coach, Tennis
Kaitlyn Reny | University of Redlands – Assistant Coach, Swimming & Diving
Kelly Rider | Curry College – Head Coach, Hockey
Toccara Ross | Central Michigan University – Assistant Coach, Basketball
Erin Schneidtmiller | University of Louisville – Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
Katelyn Sherman | Ave Maria University – Head Coach, Lacrosse
Janelle Silver-Martin | Florida Gulf Coast University – Assistant Coach, Basketball
Katie Smith | Xavier University – Head Coach, Soccer
Claire Sporer | Michigan State University – Strength Coach, Basketball
Hannah Tepper | Trinity College – Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
Arli Tilves | Carnegie Mellon University – Assistant Coach, Swimming
Julieta Toledo | The Ohio State University – Assistant Coach, Fencing
Arieon Trinity | Agnes Scott College – Head Coach, Volleyball
Melissa Valenzuela | Illinois Wesleyan University – Head Coach, Flag Football
Amy Vaughan | Nova Southeastern University – Head Coach, Soccer
Jae-Lyn Visscher | University of South Florida – Assistant Coach, Beach Volleyball
Lauren Voigt | The College of Wooster – Head Coach, Field Hockey
Janice Washington | Lincoln University – Head Coach, Basketball
Shannon Witzel | Spalding University – Head Coach, Lacrosse
Doshia Woods | University of Denver – Head Coach, Basketball
For the first time since returning to in-person Academies after the COVID-19 pandemic, WeCOACH will host a second Women Coaches Academy in Indianapolis at the NCAA National Office from November 16-18. Applications are currently open for WCA Class #55 in Indianapolis.
ABOUT the NCAA
The NCAA is a diverse association of more than 1,100 member colleges and universities that prioritize academics, well-being and fairness to create greater opportunities for more than half a million student-athletes each year. The NCAA provides a pathway to higher education and beyond for student-athletes pursuing academic goals and competing in NCAA sports. More than 54,000 student-athletes experience the pinnacle of intercollegiate athletics by competing in NCAA championships each year. Visit www.ncaa.org and www.ncaa.com for more details about the Association and the corporate partnerships that support the NCAA and its student-athletes.
ABOUT WeCOACH
Founded in 2011, WeCOACH is a one-of-a-kind 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels through year-round professional growth & leadership development programs. Prior to Title IX, over 90% of women’s collegiate sports teams were coached by women. Today, over 50 years later, the data indicates that number has decreased to 41% across all three NCAA Divisions, with only 7% women head coaches of color. Only 5% women coach men’s teams. At the youth level, the data is hard to estimate, approximately less than 20% of teams are coached by women. WeCOACH launched MOVE the NUMBERS in 2022 to help change the landscape for women coaches and the student-athletes they lead. If she can see her, she can be her. For more information visit MOVE the NUMBERS.