Hope College senior Rebekah Llorens has been selected to participate in the 13th annual Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s “So You Want To Be A Coach” program this spring.
Each member will participate in the three-day workshop held April 3-5 in conjunction with the WBCA National Convention during the NCAA Division I Final Four in Tampa, Florida.
Llorens, a post player from Grayslake, Illinois (Grayslake Central HS), is one of 58 invitees from different divisions across the country. She is majoring in history and minoring in music at Hope.
This season, Llorens has helped the nationally ranked Flying Dutch to a 21-2 start to their season by averaging 10.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Hope coach Brian Morehouse said it is exciting to see Llorens afforded this opportunity to learn more about the coaching profession.
“Bekah comes from a very good high school program and a really good high school coach. That has served her well while she’s been at Hope,” Morehouse said. “She’s continued to grow in her knowledge of basketball and her passion for coaching. She has assisted her high school coach in the summer time. That also has opened her eyes to some opportunities to influence young people.”
The objectives of the “So” program are to increase the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure coaching positions in women’s basketball, increase the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in coaching, introduce female basketball players to coaches and administrators, raise awareness of the existing talent pool of female basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching the game of women’s basketball.
“The interest in the ‘So You Want To Be A Coach’ program has been incredible this year, and we are ecstatic to see the numerous benefits this program has had on so many young, aspiring coaches,” WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew said. “Each year, the WBCA works relentlessly to improve and develop this entry-level program, and we look forward to seeing these student-athletes develop into great leaders and ambassadors for the game of women's basketball.”
“So” participants will learn about recruiting, the administrative side to coaching, how to get hired, skill development, the importance of knowing the rules, and how to balance work and life.
Qualified candidates must have exhausted their final year of basketball eligibility at a four-year institution or have graduated within the past year. In addition, the candidate’s head coach has to nominate them and must be an active WBCA member. Each participant is selected based on her academics, contributions to women’s basketball on and off the court, professional resume and a written recommendation from their head coach.
Sponsors for the “So” program are the WBCA and the NCAA Matching Fund for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Women Coaches and Officials.