INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Three MIAA coaches recently had the opportunity to grow their leadership skills, expand their professional networks and connect with women coaches from across the country through the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA).
Kalamazoo College head women's soccer coach Jill Leibforth and assistant cross country and track & field coach Rachel Hickey, along with Adrian College head women's NCVF club volleyball coach Hannah Galloway, participated in WCA Class #55, held November 16-18 in Indianapolis.
Class #55 brought together 78 women coaches representing 18 different sports and a combined 679 years of coaching experience. Participants represented a diverse collection of institutions across NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as the NAIA and NJCAA.
Hosted in partnership between the NCAA and WeCOACH, the NCAA Women Coaches Academy is a multi-day growth and development program designed for collegiate women coaches across all sports, competitive levels and stages of their coaching careers. The academy focuses on non-sport-specific concepts and advanced leadership skills and strategies that can directly impact personal and team success, while fostering an inclusive environment for women across the sports community.
For Hickey, who is beginning her collegiate coaching career, the experience provided an opportunity to learn from coaches with a wide range of experience while building relationships that she hopes will continue well beyond the academy.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Indianapolis for the WCA! The opportunity to meet and network with so many amazing women was so incredible,” Hickey said. “As someone who is just starting out her collegiate coaching career, I felt like I learned so much from women who have been coaching for years, and truly made meaningful connections. I would highly suggest this experience to anyone who has the opportunity to go in the future!”
Leibforth echoed the impact of the experience, describing the academy as a unique opportunity to learn alongside influential leaders throughout women's sports. With the academy taking place at the NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis, participants had the opportunity to engage directly with NCAA leaders and other accomplished members of the coaching profession.
“Attending the NCAA/WeCOACH Women Coaches Academy was truly an honor,” Leibforth said. “This is a one-of-a-kind space filled with some of the biggest movers and shakers in women’s sports, professional coaches, NCAA leaders, national champions, true game-changers. Spending three days learning from and alongside women who have shaped the direction of our profession was powerful and inspiring, especially since this academy took place at the NCAA Headquarters. To be welcomed into that room and that community was incredibly special. I’d recommend this experience to any woman coach, anywhere!”
Galloway, Leibforth and Hickey's participation in Class #55 highlights the continued commitment of MIAA coaches to professional development, leadership growth and building connections across the broader collegiate athletics community.
An active WeCOACH membership is required to apply and participate in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, providing women coaches with an additional avenue to engage in professional development and connect with colleagues from across the collegiate sports landscape.