Marshall University Athletics
Coach Sacha Santimano Earns Legacy Scholarship, to Take Part in WeCoach NCAA Women Coaches Academy
6/11/2024 6:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball
DENVER, Colo. – WeCOACH announced the 53rd class of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA) and the 7th class of NCAA Academy 2.0, taking place June 16-19, in Denver, Colorado. Marshall women's basketball assistant coach Sacha Santimano was selected as one of 95 coaches to attend the event.
Additionally, Coach Santimano was awarded as a recipient of the 2024 Cathy Inglese Legacy Coach Academy Scholarship. This Cathy Inglese Legacy Coach Academy scholarship is given to "A collegiate basketball coach who is driven, passionate, has the love of the game and someone who gives of themselves to their teams and program like Cathy did."
"I wanted to take the time to thank Pam Borton and WeCoach for being selected for the Cathy Inglese Legacy Coach Scholarship," Santimano said. "To have the opportunity to learn from others and grow while building relationships will make a lasting impact on myself personally and in my career. I'm excited to take what I learn back to our program and our student-athletes."
A total of 119 women coaches will convene in Denver, with 95 participating in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy and 24 engaging in the advanced NCAA Academy 2.0 program. These women 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.
"The NCAA is proud to once again partner with WeCOACH to host the 2024 NCAA Women Coaches Academy and NCAA Academy 2.0. The NCAA Leadership Development Office serves to educate and empower student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators through transformative experiences that develop strong, effective leaders, cultivate an inclusive community and enhance the college sports landscape", said DeeDee Merritt, NCAA Managing Director of Leadership Development. "These Academies for women coaches align with our mission and have had tremendous results in supporting, advancing and retaining women coaches in collegiate athletics. WeCOACH performs a valuable service in providing support and development for women coaches across the collegiate sports landscape. Collaborative efforts such as this allow us to expand our reach and broaden our impact."
A special addition this year, WeCOACH will honor the five recipients of the 2023-24 WeCOACH Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Jostens. Academy Participants will also have a chance to learn from the honorees during a keynote conversation session presented by Hudl.
"The Academy experience is truly magical in terms of the powerful knowledge gained and lasting relationships formed. Our graduates leave feeling empowered, inspired and motivated to be the best possible leaders for the student-athletes they coach, and the data demonstrates our Academy graduates remain in the coaching profession at a higher rate than the national average," said Vanessa Fuchs, CEO of WeCOACH. "Thanks to generous donor support, we awarded over $50,000 in scholarship funds to 43 coaches, furthering our mission to support women coaches and ensuring affordable access for all WeCOACH programming."
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. The NCAA Academy 2.0, exclusively created for WCA graduates, is a master-learning opportunity in a small class setting that progresses on the leadership, strategies, and knowledge gained from their WCA experience.
WeCOACH thanks the NCAA for its longstanding support of these transformational programs along with this year's Academy Partners: Marines, Hudl, VALD, Athlete Assessments, Gatorade Performance Partner, Holbrook, Legends of the Ball, Inc, Natasha Watley Foundation, The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, This One Media and The Sports Bra Project.
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
June 16-18 NCAA Academy 2.0 Class #7 Participants:
Amanda Beckwith, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Head Coach, Volleyball
Jennifer Buffin, Colorado College, Head Coach, M & W Swimming & Diving
LaTanya Collins, Iona University, Associate Head Coach, Women's Basketball
Jazmine Craig, Bryant University, Assistant Coach, Women's Volleyball
Sarah Dessner, Georgian Court University, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball
Kacie Ehinger, Nova Southeastern University, Head Coach, Women's Volleyball
Sara Emerich, Manchester University, Head Coach, Softball
Kaylee Harnen, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Assistant Coach, Women's Ice Hockey
Perrmella Harris, Morgan State University, Associate Head Coach, Acrobatics & Tumbling
Amy Hogue, University of Utah, Head Coach, Softball
Erin Hughes, Washington & Lee University, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball
Kate McCauley, Saint Vincent College, Head Coach, Men's Volleyball
Donye' Monroe, Manchester University, Head Coach, Women's Soccer
Kelsey Morrison, SUNY Potsdam, Head Coach, Women's Soccer
Jessica Mulhern, Adelphi University, Head Coach, Field Hockey
Jennifer Myhre, Anderson University, Head Coach, Women's Soccer
Ellen Newton, D'Youville University, Assistant Coach, Women's Lacrosse
Ashley Potvin-Fulford, University of New England, Head Coach, Women's Rugby
Lauren Prochazka, South Dakota Mines, Head Coach, Women's Volleyball
Carrie Racsumberger, Daemen University, Head Coach, Bowling
Melissa Schwab, Elmhurst University, Assistant Coach, Women's Basketball
Jennifer Stadler, Chadron State College, Head Coach, Women's Basketball
Olivia Staff, Monmouth University, Associate Head Coach, Women's Rowing
Tiana Webster, St. Mary's College of Maryland, Assistant Coach, Cross Country, Track & Field
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