The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels.
The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches.
The mission of the WBCA is:
The WBCA provides education for coaches, and promotes the coaching profession with awards for coaches and players. While many of the awards are related to basketball activities, the WBCA recognizes the need for academic as well as athletic excellence and recognizes academic excellence with their Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll.
History
An organizational meeting was held at the Olympic Festival in Syracuse, New York, in 1981. Jill Hutchison was named the first president of the organization, before the organization even had a name. Later that year, Betty Jaynes was named the interim executive director of the organization. Jaynes was the head coach of the James Madison University women's basketball team, but she resigned her position to take on the responsibilities of the WBCA. She would serve as the chief executive officer until retiring in November 2000, turning over the position to Beth Bass. Bass joined the organization as executive director in 1997, and assumed the role of CEO after the retirement of Jaynes, who continues to serve as a consultant to the WBCA.
Membership
The membership is open to virtually all, including institutions. The main membership category is "active" comprising the coaching staff of NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, as well as NAIA, USCAA, junior college and community college coaches. In addition, there are membership categories for high school, AAU and recreational league coaches, as well as coaches on professional teams. Institutions are allowed to become members. Finally, there are affiliate categories for "administrators", "industry professionals" (including media), players, and "fans" (including anyone who is a friend of women's basketball). An "international" membership category is available for individuals, regardless of category, living outside the U.S. and its territories. All members are eligible to attend the WBCA's annual convention except for high school and college players.
The WBCA membership is considerably broader than that of the WBCA's men's counterpart, the National Association of Basketball Coaches: Coaches at professional teams are ineligible for any level of NABC membership unless they have spent enough years as active members in college basketball to be eligible for "associate" membership. The "active" NABC membership consists solely of head coaches and full-time assistants at NCAA and NAIA institutions. Coaches at four-year institutions not affiliated with the NCAA or NAIA are ineligible for NABC membership at any level. By contrast, active WBCA membership is open even to coaches at four-year institutions unaffiliated with any national association. Men's coaches at two-year schools are in the NABC's third-tier category of "activity" membership. By contrast, women's coaches at the same type of schools are eligible for active WBCA membership. The NABC only offers fourth-level "affiliate" membership to directors of basketball operations, and only if they work at four-year institutions. The WBCA considers individuals in the same role at women's basketball programs eligible for active membership, and also extends this privilege to those holding the position at two-year institutions. While certain administrators in men's basketball are eligible for "affiliate" NABC membership, eligibility is far more restrictive than the WBCA "administrator" category. The NABC does not offer any level of membership to institutions, players, or fans.
Events and initiatives
The WBCA sponsors a variety of events throughout the year. The major event is the annual convention, coinciding both in timing and location with the Final Four weekend of the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship. Other sponsored events occur throughout the year, some in conjunction with the annual convention, others at different times.
Convention
The main function of the convention is for business meetings, such as board of directors meetings, and other administrative meetings. The program also typically includes panel presentations including members and outside speakers, workshops, awards and outside exhibitors.