The Ohio Athletic Conference is one of 10 conferences that partnered with WeCOACH to conduct a Regional Workshop in Indianapolis on February 1.
In conjunction with the celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the one-day workshop was specifically designed to elevate professional growth through networking opportunities and discussions on critical issues impacting the coaching profession. Topics such as mental health, communication best practices, work-life balance, Title IX, coach-to-coach peer learning and more were covered by nationally renowned experts.
WeCOACH is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit membership organization dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels through professional growth and leadership development programs. The WeCOACH vision is to be the global leader in recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches to exponentially increase the number of women in all sports and levels.
Regional Workshops are open to current and aspiring women coaches in all sports and all levels (youth, club, middle/high school, college, etc.). Each workshop is designed to elevate your professional growth through networking opportunities, discussions on critical issues impacting the coaching profession, and offering best practices for successfully navigating challenges.
In addition to the OAC, other conferences that partnered to make the event possible include the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC), Horizon League, Mid-American Conference (MAC), Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).
What OAC coaches said about the Regional Workshop:
“The WeCOACH Regional Workshop in Indianapolis was so beneficial as a female coach. This singular event provided me with numerous opportunities to network and connect with other women in the region that coach at the collegiate level. My favorite speaker of the day was Lin Dunn, General Manager for the Indiana Fever. To hear about her journey and the barriers she knocked down and the doors she opened for coaches like me was so motivating. Something she said that I found helpful was not to let a problem become an excuse. Lin was faced with many "problems" and issues, but she never turned away from them, she embraced them and worked through it. Lin's dedication to grow women's sports paved a way for myself and the athletes I am coaching today. I am very thankful Sarah Otey and the OAC provided me with the opportunity to attend the workshop and I am looking forward to engaging in future events held by WeCOACH.”- Jenn Castle, Head Softball Coach/Senior Woman Administrator, Marietta College
“I truly enjoyed the WeCOACH Regional Workshop. I was happy to take the day to develop more as a coach and administrator. WeCOACH did a great job of bringing in presenters who could relate to all of us and give us tools and action items to take back to our teams and departments. There were a few takeaways I had from the event; I learned how to better communicate and motivate my athletes to help maximize their potential, and the importance of taking care of ourselves and staff so we can be the best for everyone in our lives. From this event I was able to create new connections and continue to develop good relationships within our division III realm. These connections will go far, and I am excited to see what I can learn from them!” - Dani Gunderson, Head Women's Soccer Coach/Senior Woman Administrator, Muskingum University
“The WeCOACH conference was an amazing experience, and I am so glad I attended. I loved that it was opened to all women in all different roles, titles, and sports. The conference made me feel inspired and reminded me that I am not in this profession alone. Throughout the day the women that I got to interact with changed not only my professional life but also my personal life and for that I am very grateful. Lastly, it was very empowering to hear the stories of others who came before me and rocked the boat so that I could have these opportunities, and it was a great reminder that we are not done yet pushing and fighting for women in sports." - Hannah Zuchowski, Assistant Volleyball Coach, Ohio Northern University
For more information on WeCOACH and future opportunities, visit wecoachsports.org.
