Lady Bulldog Imesia Jackson Selected For Nike's
ATLANTA, Ga. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) is proud to host the sixth annual Nike's So You Want To Be A Coach program. This two and a half day workshop will be held in conjunction with the WBCA National Convention on April 4 through April 6 in Tampa Bay, Fla. Nike serves as the title sponsor for this tremendous program.
Among the participants is Mississippi State senior forward Imesia Jackson. Jackson, a two-year starter from Crawford, is averaging 8.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. She is an interdisciplinary studies major.
"Nike is committed to growing women's basketball and supporting those coaches involved in our game," said Jill Pizzotti, Nike's Manager of Women's College Basketball. "We are proud to sponsor the 'So You Want To Be A Coach' program, focused on developing and educating these chosen young ladies on the coaching profession."
The WBCA has been a cornerstone in developing an organization that meets the needs of women, while promoting the game of basketball and its development, as well as unifying coaches on every level. The So You Want To Be A Coach Program was designed to increase the amount of minorities in the coaching profession, by providing a workshop based on educational and professional principles to help those interested in the field.
The coaching lessons shared with these participants will assist in identifying, recruiting and retaining minority women in the profession of coaching. At this year's workshop, the participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn from some high level professionals such as Penn State Head Coach Coquese Washington, Old Dominion Assistant Coach Nikita Dawkins, Black Coaches & Administrators Executive Director Floyd Keith, and many others.
For qualification, the potential candidate must have exhausted her 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 their academics, contributions to women's basketball on and off the court, professional resume and a written recommendation from their head coach.
Listed below is the 2008 class of Nike’s So You Want To Be A Coach:
Candidate School
Janese Banks Wisconsin
Monique Bassett Bethune-Cookman
Chante Bowman Kentucky
Jennifer Brown James Madison
Psyche Butler Robert Morris
Shannon Carlisle Howard
Latoya Carter Gardner-Webb
Alexis Castro American International
Taushauna Churchwell Grand Valley State
Monique Dawson Western Carolina
Karmeshia Easly West Florida
Ledella English New Orleans
Ashley Ford Nebraska
Leah Foster Texas State
Adrienne Gilmore Furman
Rita Grayson Francis Marion
Reyna Gross Howard
C’Vette Henson George Mason
Jill Ingram Georgia Tech
Amanda Jackson Miami (Ohio)
Imesia Jackson Mississippi State
Andrea Johnson Tusculum College
Ciara Johnson DePaul
Maripier Malo Saint Bonaventure
Dominee Matthews Xavier (La.)
Tristan McCray Bethune-Cookman
Katherine Menendez North Central College
Amber Metoyer Louisiana Tech
Daphne Mitchell Georgia Tech
Janie Mitchell Georgia Tech
Melissa Mitidiero DePaul
Denasha Mondy Bellarmine
Ashleigh Newman Maryland
Chioma Nnamaka Georgia Tech
Morgan Patrick Stony Brook
Ashley Pellom Western Carolina
Moesheda Pettus Alabama-Huntsville
Renee Polk West Florida
Nathalie Reshard Alabama
Jade Robinson Kennesaw State
Asha Santee Howard
Linsdey Shiomi University of La Verne
Courtney Simmons Louisville
Tiowana Spann WVU Tech
Ashli Summerville College of Charleston
Lori Tanaka University of Chicago
Alisha Tatham Massachusetts
Terese Thorton Howard
Brittney Vaughn Arkansas
Cecilia Ware Coastal Carolina
Andrea Williams New Orleans
Ketrina Wilson Georgia Tech
Sharnee Zoll Virginia