ARLINGTON – UTA women's basketball senior guard Jordynn Hernandez has been selected to participate in the 2021 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) "So You Want To Be A Coach" program. The WBCA, in partnership with WeCOACH, will host a one-day online workshop on March 30.

Hernandez, the lone Sun Belt Conference student-athlete chosen, is among 18 members selected from Division I schools, and 14 additional members were also chosen from Division II, Division III and NAIA programs.

"I'm so excited Jojo has been chosen as a participant for the 'So You Want To Be A Coach Program'," said Lady Mavs head coach Shereka Wright. "I remember the first day we sat down and talked about what her future goals were and she expressed her aspiration was to coach. Since then, she has soaked up every opportunity to learn from our coaching staff. This program will be another great opportunity for her to grow and blossom as a future coach."

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.

" 'So You Want To Be A Coach' is the longest-running and most popular education program the WBCA offers," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "Each year, the WBCA family of coaches reinforces its support for this important entry-level program into the coaching profession. We are grateful to WeCoach for its partnership, which helps us take this highly successful program to the next level. We expect to see these former student-athletes develop over time into great leaders of and ambassadors for the game of women's basketball."

"In a year marked by the pandemic, we are so thrilled the WBCA continues to prioritize providing this premier program. Our partnership with the 'So' program is helping pave the way for the future of women in coaching, which is so needed to give them an access point," said WeCOACH CEO Megan Kahn. "We congratulate the 2021 participants and look forward to supporting and developing them as they aspire to enter the coaching profession."

"So" participants will learn about the administrative side of coaching, recruiting, 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.

In addition to this year's participants, former student-athletes selected to attend the 2020 "So" program, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, also may participate in this year's virtual program. Click here to view a list of those persons selected to the 2020 "So" class.

Visit www.WBCA.org for more information on the "So" program.

2021 "So You Want To Be A Coach" Class
- Kaitlin Aylward (University of St. Francis (IL) - NAIA)
- Jessica Camarda (Adelphi Universityn - NCAA II)
- Sydney Ann Cottrell (Texas A&M - NCAA I)
- Jayla Davis (Sacred Heart - NCAA I)
- Jessica Day (Jacksonville State - NCAA I)
- Gabrielle Doud (Western Colorado - NCAA II)
- Aaliyah Dunham (Xavier - NCAA I)
- Julie Fournier (Colorado Christian - NCAA II)
- Sydney Goodson (Kansas State - NCAA I)
- Claire Gritt (Denver - NCAA I)
- Emily Hatfield (Tennessee Tech - NCAA I)
- Jordynn Hernandez (UTA - NCAA I)
- Kelly Jekot (Penn State - NCAA I)
- Camryn Johnson (Francis Marion - NCAA II)
- Taylor Kissinger (Nebraska - NCAA I)
- Breion Knox (Fairleigh Dickinson University–Florham - NCAA III)
- Kyra Lambert (Texas - NCAA I)
- Tierney Lockett (Lewis University - NCAA II)
- Makayla Mabry (Abilene Christian - NCAA I)
- Mallory Odell (Longwood - NCAA I)
- Elizabeth Oswald (University of Wisconsin–Stout - NCAA III)
- Eveline Parsons (Tusculum University - NCAA II)
- Destiny Pitts (Texas A&M - NCAA I)
- Katherine Puda (Brandeis University - NCAA III)
- Zion Sanders (Iowa - NCAA I)
- Anne Secrest (Indiana Wesleyan University - NAIA)
- Dakota Spears (Siena Heights University - NAIA)
- Faith Troshynski (Concordia University (NE) - NAIA)
- Abby Vampatella (Gordon College - NCAA III)
- Chinickqua Walker (Clemson -  NCAA I)
- Aaliyah Wilson (Texas A&M - NCAA I)
- LaKaitlin Wright (Towson - NCAA I)

About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
 
About WeCOACH
Founded in 2011, WeCOACH has become the premier membership organization committed to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches across all sports and levels. Previously known as the Alliance of Women Coaches, the organization reinvigorated its brand in August 2018. By providing a supportive and unified network, educational programs and resources, and access to in-person and digital resources, WeCOACH is changing the landscape for women coaches. Learn more at www.wecoachsports.org.