Jan. 30, 2017
Vanderbilt redshirt senior guard Minta Spears has been selected to participate in The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s 15th annual “So You Want To Be A Coach” program. Each selected member will participate in the three-day workshop held during the Final Four from March 29-31 in conjunction with the WBCA Convention in Dallas.
Spears, who joined the Commodore WBB team in May of 2015 after being accepted into grad school, is interested in the possibility of entering the coaching field when she completes her time at Vanderbilt — and the “So You Want To Be A Coach” program will be a valuable tool in her preparation.
“I’ve had the unique experience of having four head coaches and close to 20 assistants during my collegiate career, and I’ve seen the impact coaches can have on their athletes,” said Spears, who transferred to Vanderbilt from Texas Tech.
“While I love the X’s and O’s and the strategy behind the game of basketball, I’m also interested in how basketball can be used as a platform to connect to the community, teach transferable skills like leadership and teamwork, and develop young people on and off the court to pursue their passions. I’d be honored one day to be a coach and provide opportunities to young women, just as my coaches have done for me.”
In order to be considered as a candidate for the “So” program, players have to be nominated by their head coach. Each participant is selected based on her academics, contributions to women’s basketball on and off the court and professional résumé, along with other criteria.
Spears ranked among the SEC leaders in minutes played last season and led the Commodores in assists. This season, she has been nominated for Allstate GoodWorks Team for her continued community service efforts in the Nashville area.
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, and 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.
“We continue to invest in young, aspiring coaches through our ‘So You Want To Be A Coach’ program,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Each year, the WBCA family reinforces our support for this important entry-level program. We have high expectations for these graduating student-athletes and the future contributions they will make to 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.
Visit www.WBCA.org for more information on the “So” program.