BALTIMORE, Md. (June 10, 2024)--Morgan State acrobatics and tumbling head coach Regina Smith is set to attend the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA) 53^rd class hosted by WeCOACH in Denver, Colo. from June 17-19 as a Hudl Scholarship Recipient.
 
Smith, who is one of 95 selected to participate in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, is also the recipient of one of five Hudl full tuition scholarships which were awarded to a woman of color, who is a coach, strength-conditioning coach or director of operations at an HBCU institution.
 
The participants represent 25 different sports, including five of the six NCAA Emerging Sports and come from a diverse range of institutions including NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, NAIA, 3C2A, NJCAA, and NWAC.
 
"I wanted to take the opportunity and time to thank Hudl for providing a full scholarship towards the success of women of color coaching careers and athletic programs, particularly here at The National Treasure: Morgan State University," said Smith. "I am truly honored to be named one of five recipients of the WECoach Academy 53^rd Class."
 
"Hudl's generosity allows women of color like myself, to have equal opportunities, and to gain more expertise in coaching strategies, network expansion, and equipping us with tools to building a cohesive and championship culture. I truly am forever grateful."
 
Added Smith, "I also thank WeCOACH so very much for their commitment and efforts in seeing it through for women in athletics."
 
Over 2,200 graduates have participated in the NCAA WCA, a program designed for women coaches 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.
 
June 17-19 NCAA Women Coaches Academy Class #53 Participants
Alex Albert, University of Saint Joseph, Head Coach, Women's Swimming & Diving
Sarah Anderson, University of Cincinnati, Assistant Coach, Cross Country, Track & Field
Monica Armstrong, University of California- Santa Cruz, Head Coach, Women's Basketball
Keela Austin, Fordham University, Assistant Coach, Track & Field
Sade Ayinde, University at Albany, Head Coach, Women's Soccer
Jordan Barton, Bethany College, Head Coach, Women's Volleyball
Meghan Barnard, IU-Indianapolis, Assistant Coach, Women's Tennis
Keilee Bessho, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Assistant Coach, Women's Golf
Maggie Billingsley, Stanislaus State University, Assistant Coach, Women's Volleyball
Jennifer Buckman, University of Chicago, Assistant Coach, Women's Volleyball
Kelly Buikus, University of the Cumberlands, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Sandra Bullock, Southwestern Oregon Community College, Head Coach, M & W Swimming
Olga Camacho, Skyline College, Head Coach, Women's Wrestling
Donna Carr, Davis & Elkins College, Head Coach, Women's Basketball
Ashley Chagnon, Clark University, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Valerie Clark, Converse University, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Vicmari Cockrill, Tennessee State University, Assistant Coach, Women's Volleyball
Rebecca Congel, Carthage College, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Angela DaPrato, Cosumnes River College, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball
Mercede Daugherty, Hope College, Assistant Coach, Softball
Lauren Davenport, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Assistant Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Colleen Dawson, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Caitlin Desaulniers, University of New England, Assistant Coach, Women's Rugby
Nikki Dieball, Southern Nazarene University, Associate Head Coach, Women's Volleyball
Kennedy Fabian, Wright State University, Assistant Coach, Women's Volleyball
Megan Fox, Chestnut Hill College, Head Coach, Women's Basketball
Brandie Garcia, Ohlone College, Head Coach, Women's Soccer
Casey Garza, University of Massachusetts Boston, Strength Coach, Weightlifting
Dawn Grant, Swarthmore College, Head Coach, Women's Basketball
Alex Guyton, Purdue University, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball
Hannah Hagy, Trinity College, Head Coach, M & W Swimming & Diving
Amanda Hansen, Occidental College, Assistant Coach, Softball
Christine Hipa, Occidental College, Head Coach, Softball
Kaitlyn Hooper-Bell, University of Redlands, Assistant Coach, Softball
Thannia Huerta, Madera Community College, Assistant Coach, Women's Soccer
Jeani Humpe, Bethany College, Head Coach, M & W Swimming & Diving
Jillian Humphrey, Saint Mary's College, Head Coach, STUNT
Alyssa Johnson, Case Western Reserve University, Head Coach, Women's Soccer
Joan Johnson, Head Coach, Field Hockey
Clarissa Johnson, Transylvania University, Head Coach, Cheer
Keanna Keys, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball
Mackenzie King, SUNY Oneonta, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Tierney Larson, Columbia University, Assistant Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Ashley Lawrence, Virginia State University, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Amari Lawson, Clark Atlanta University, Volunteer Assistant Coach, Softball
Kumari Lewis, University of Pennsylvania, Associate Head Coach, Women's Rowing
Kae Lord, Amherst College, Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
Margaret Maclean, University of New Haven, Head Coach, Field Hockey
Lindsay Macy, College of St. Benedict, Head Coach, Women's Ice Hockey
Justice Magraw, University of Washington, Assistant Coach, Women's Volleyball
Tatjana Matthews, South Carolina State University, Head Coach, Softball
Alison McCarthy, Rose-Human Institute of Technology, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball
Deja Middleton, University of Richmond, Facilities Manager
Lydia Mitchell, Oberlin College, Assistant Coach, Women's Soccer
Dayna Moneta, Williams College, Assistant Coach, Football
Anna Moore, University of Sioux Falls, Assistant Coach, Swimming & Diving
Avery Murphy, Wilson College, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Karen Nell, University of Saint Joseph, Head Coach, Field Hockey
Amber Neumann, Pace University, Assistant Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Madison Nichols, Stevenson University, Assistant Coach, Women's Ice Hockey
Molly Nuri, Bethany College, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Ana Pain, Barry University, Assistant Coach, Women's Tennis
Jenny Pawlowski, Gannon University, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Barbara Perkins, University of Denver, Head Coach, Triathlon
Jamie Peters, Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Assistant Coach, Women's Soccer
Jody Pope, Grays Harbor Community College, Assistant Coach, Softball
Breann Puchalski, University of Redlands, Assistant Coach, Women's Soccer
Veronica Rocco, Amherst College, Assistant Coach, Cross Country, Track & Field
Christine Roser-LeFevers, Rollins College, Head Coach, Softball
Cat Rossi, Washington & Lee University, Strength Coach, Weightlifting
Alicia Roth, Jacksonville University, Head Coach, Women's Volleyball
Taylor Ruden, Ohio State University, Assistant Coach, Women's Rowing
Mia Ruffalo, York College, Assistant Coach, Softball
Liz Ruiz, Boise State University, Assistant Coach, Women's Soccer
Amanda Ruller, Central Washington University, Graduate Assistant Coach, Football
Katie Russo, Goucher College, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Sacha Santimano, Marshall University, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball
Olivia Scarbrough, Bethany College, Head Coach, Softball
Sierra Slack, Occidental College, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Regina Smith, Morgan State University, Head Coach, Acrobatics and Tumbling
Maggie Sohns, Stevens Institute of Technology, Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
Jaylynn Stewart, The University of the South, Head Coach, Women's Basketball
Abigail String, Marist College, Assistant Coach, M & W Swimming & Diving
Corrinne Tarver, Fisk University, Head Coach, Gymnastics
Allison Taub, Lehigh University, Assistant Coach, Track & Field
Shannon Taub, Duquesne University, Assistant Coach, Track & Field
Cassandra Taylor, University of Valley Forge, Head Coach, Women's Basketball
Mona Walters, Bryn Athyn College, Head Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Megan Warren, Wilmington College, Head Coach, Softball
Jess West, Oberlin College, Head Coach, Field Hockey
Sarah Weyrauch, University of Minnesota, Assistant Coach, Women's Rowing
Kourtni Williams, Boston University, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball
Makena Wilson, Florida Southern College, Head Coach, Beach Volleyball
Marlee Wilson, Western Michigan University, Head Coach, Softball
Katherine Yarusso, Widener University, Assistant Coach, Women's Lacrosse
  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 46% in Division I, 41% across all three NCAA Divisions, with only 6.2% women head coaches of color (Division I). 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.
 
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ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 126 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.