Report from the WBCA Convention at the
NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four in Dallas, Texas.
30 March through 2 April, 2023
The Nations of Coaches (NOC) ministry at the WBCA Convention began by setting up the NOC booth in the exhibition area. Coach Kelly Kennedy and her daughters set up the entire booth as Roger Lipe’s flight from St. Louis, MO was delayed by nine hours. He finally arrived at the convention hotel at 11:30 pm.
From 9:00 to 3:00 on Friday, Kelly and Roger were at the booth meeting with hundreds of coaches from across the nation. The coaches loved our gifts of Fox 40 whistles, pens, note pads, and whiteboard markers, each bearing the NOC logo. They were intrigued by our cards with information on the Coaches Edge, set for Saturday morning, as well as the FCA worship service and Kay Yow Breakfast set for Sunday.
We enjoyed strong partnership with our ministry teammates from Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
On the edges of our formal service at the booth and in meetings, we connected with many coaches over coffee, breakfast, and dinner.
On Saturday from 10:30 to noon, Nations of Coaches hosted sixty-five coaches for the Coaches Edge. It was an enlightening discussion titled, “A Healthy Approach to the Transfer Portal and Name Image and Likeness.” Kelly gathered a panel comprised of head coaches from various levels of Women’s College Basketball – one Division I (Power 5), one Division I (low mid-major), one NAIA, and one Division II. Their insights and commentary were very valuable. In addition to their sharing, we had coaches scattered around the room with discussion questions in hand to facilitate discussion among all participants. The discussion was lively and insightful. Ninety minutes flew by, and several coaches stayed in the room for further interaction after the meeting was dismissed.
At 7:00 am Sunday, FCA hosted a worship service featuring Charlotte Smith, Head Coach at Elon College, with more than 150 people in attendance. It was followed by the Kay Yow Breakfast, both in the conference center at the Sheraton Hotel Dallas.
Coach Kirsten Moore of Westmont College in California was awarded as the Kay Yow Coach of the Year. Coach Moore was coached by Coach Kelly Kennedy as a graduate Assistant at the University of Oregon. Coach Moore said, “I’m in coaching to touch the heart more so than the ball.”
In summary of the convention, Coach Kennedy said, “It has been an incredible weekend connecting with coaches and sharing Nations of Coaches. The booth was great, but the Coaches Edge discussion about the Transfer Portal NIL was outstanding. It was a tremendous way to Equip coaches in their professional needs. The connections and awareness NOC made this weekend have been excellent. Only God can make the connections that have been and are being made.”
