LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) in conjunction with the Assistant Coach University is proud to announce a pre-convention seminar to be offered at the 2015 NFCA Convention on Dec. 2 in Atlanta, Ga. The program is specifically designed to grow and mentor assistant coaches using models of leadership and professionalism, along with development of personalized systems for success at all levels.
“Assistant coaches represent the largest group attending our national convention and we want to meet their educational needs by creating and providing new and exciting programming,” said NFCA Interim Executive Director Carol Bruggeman. “In 2010, the Mentoring Session, which has become one of the more popular convention events, was created to provide the group with more face-to-face educational interaction. The NFCA is excited to take another educational step forward by adding “The Assistant Coach University” as a pre-convention seminar.”
The four-hour long program, will run from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Dec. 2 at a cost of $50 for members and $100 for non-members. Registration is available through the NFCA’s convention website HERE. You can also view the seminar’s intinerary HERE.
Attendees will be addressed by experienced mentors, providing education and experiential learning. Best in class mentors include: Alabama assistant coach Alyson Habetz, Texas A&M head coach and 2015 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee Jo Evans, Northwestern’s head and associate head coach, Kate and Caryl Drohan, respectively, Williams head coach Kris Herman, South Carolina head coach Bev Smith and Tennessee co-head coach Karen Weekly. The panel will also include three travel ball coaches: Kevin O’Donnell (New Jersey Intensity), Kevin Shelton (Texas Glory) and Greg Schnute (East Cobb Bullets).
“We are beyond grateful to the NFCA for supporting the Assistant Coach University,” founders and College of Charleston assistant coaches Samantha Marder and Ashley Chastain said. “We have a great group of highly-talented coaches ready to address our game’s assistants in order to help them learn and grow.”
ACU programming will consist of three anchors: Foundation and Principles, Influence and Leadership and Business and Professionalism. During Foundation and Principles attendees will learn the best practice on and off the field, which becomes applicable in personal and professional settings. The Influence and Leadership anchor will focus on information that maximizes the relationship with travel, high school and youth coaches. In addition, coaches will consider ethical dilemmas and possible solutions along with information regarding building a team culture that can be developed and measured. Rounding out the program is Business and Professionalism, which emphasizes being a professional and quantifying your value in the interviewing process.
The Assistant Coach University is the creation of Marder, Chastain, Herman and retired UCLA head coach Sue Enquist. Former NFCA Assistant Coach Representative, Boo De Oliveira (Arkansas) and current representative Diane Miller (Nebraska) have been instrumental in the Mentoring Sessions and in generating excitement, while serving the needs of assistant coaches around the country.