LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky women?s basketball senior Chante? Bowman was chosen as one of 53 participants for The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association?s (WBCA) sixth annual Nike’s So You Want To Be A Coach program. This two and a half day workshop will be held in conjunction with the WBCA National Convention April 4-6 in Tampa Bay, Fla. Nike serves as the title sponsor for this tremendous program.
“Being chosen for this workshop really means a lot to me,? Bowman said. ?This program will allow me to meet and network with great coaches from across the country and I?ll be able to listen to them talk about the game and learn from them. I?ve always wanted to be a coach. It?s a dream job and I?m looking forward to getting into the profession after graduation.?
Bowman, a 2007 Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll selection, is set to graduate in May, ?08 with a degree in communication. As the consummate team player, she has played almost every position in her four years at Kentucky, including her current role as the starting point guard due to injuries in the back court. Despite her 5-11 frame, she used defensive intensity to combat size disadvantages last season after injuries in the post forced her to play at the forward position. Overall, she has seen action in 121 career games with 99 starting assignments and holds career averages of 3.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Nike is committed to growing women’s basketball and supporting those coaches involved in our game,” said Jill Pizzotti, Nike’s Manager of Women’s College Basketball. “We are proud to sponsor the ‘So You Want To Be A Coach’ program, focused on developing and educating these chosen young ladies on the coaching profession.”
The WBCA has been a cornerstone in developing an organization that meets the needs of women, while promoting the game of basketball and its development, as well as unifying coaches on every level. The So You Want To Be A Coach Program was designed to increase the amount of minorities in the coaching profession, by providing a workshop based on educational and professional principles to help those interested in the field.
The coaching lessons shared with these participants will assist in identifying, recruiting and retaining minority women in the profession of coaching. At this year’s workshop, the participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn from some high level professionals such as Penn State Head Coach Coquese Washington, Old Dominion Assistant Coach Nikita Dawkins, Black Coaches & Administrators Executive Director Floyd Keith, and many others.
For qualification, the potential candidate must have exhausted her final year of basketball eligibility at a four-year institution or have graduated within the past year. In addition, the candidate’s head coach has to nominate them and must be an active WBCA member. Each participant is selected based on their academics, contributions to women’s basketball on and off the court, professional resume and a written recommendation from their head coach.
Listed below is the 2008 class of Nike?s So You Want To Be A Coach:
Candidate, School Janese Banks, Wisconsin Monique Bassett, Bethune-Cookman Chante? Bowman, Kentucky Jennifer Brown, James Madison Psyche Butler, Robert Morris Shannon Carlisle, Howard Latoya Carter, Gardner-Webb Alexis Castro, American International Taushauna Churchwell, Grand Valley State Monique Dawson, Western Carolina Karmeshia Easly, West Florida Ledella English, New Orleans Ashley Ford, Nebraska Leah Foster, Texas State Adrienne Gilmore. Furman Rita Grayson, Francis Marion Reyna Gross, Howard C?Vette Henson, George Mason Jill Ingram, Georgia Tech Amanda Jackson, Miami (Ohio) Imesia Jackson, Mississippi State Andrea Johnson, Tusculum College Ciara Johnson, DePaul Maripier Malo, Saint Bonaventure Dominee Matthews, Xavier (La.) Tristan McCray, Bethune-Cookman Katherine Menendez, North Central College Amber Metoyer, Louisiana Tech Daphne Mitchell, Georgia Tech Janie Mitchell, Georgia Tech Melissa Mitidiero, DePaul Denasha Mondy, Bellarmine Ashleigh Newman, Maryland Chioma Nnamaka, Georgia Tech Morgan Patrick, Stony Brook Ashley Pellom, Western Carolina Moesheda Pettus, Alabama-Huntsville Renee Polk, West Florida Nathalie Reshard, Alabama Jade Robinson, Kennesaw State Asha Santee, Howard Linsdey Shiomi, University of La Verne Courtney Simmons, Louisville Tiowana Spann, WVU Tech Ashli Summerville, College of Charleston Lori Tanaka, University of Chicago
