BROOKLYN, N.Y. – St. Francis College Brooklyn men’s and women’s water polo assistant coach Morgan Allison–Prokhin was among 102 coaches that comprised the 52nd class of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women Coaches Academy (WCA) as WeCOACH hosted the WCA and the 6th class of the NCAA Academy 2.0 in Denver, Colorado from May 21-24, 2023. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the Women Coaches Academy, made possible by WeCOACH through a longstanding partnership with the NCAA.
A 2017 graduate of St. Francis Brooklyn with a bachelor of arts in Communications and a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising, as well as a minor in Sports Management, Allison-Prokhin was a four-year member of the women’s water polo team and captain her senior year. A competitor on the swimming & diving team in her junior and senior years, she was an active student-athlete advisory committee during her tenure as an athlete.
Upon graduation, Allison-Prokhin started working at a local private high school coordinating all their alumni events and development publications and fundraising campaigns as the Associate Director of Institutional Advancement and Events. After working at the high school, she returned to SFC to work in the development office as the Assistant Director for Annual Giving. After one year, she switched her career and went into corporate event management. Currently, Allison-Prokhin is the Global Events and Outreach Manager at Moody’s Analytics and Investment Services.
Founded in 2011, WeCOACH is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels through year-round professional growth & leadership development programs. Prior to Title IX, over 90% of women’s collegiate sports teams were coached by women. Today, 50 years later, data indicates that number has decreased to a stagnant 41% in all three NCAA Divisions, with only 7.3% women coaches of color. Five percent of women coach men’s teams, and at the youth level, the data is hard to estimate, approximately less than 20% of teams are coached by women.
University of South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley served as keynote speaker during the event. A two-time national champion coach and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Staley is among the most decorated participants in United States women’s basketball history having won three Olympic gold medals with Team USA as a player and later was head coach of another U.S. gold-medal winning team.
Over 2,100 graduates have participated in the NCAA WCA, a program designed for women coaches to elevate their holistic coaching effectiveness by learning advanced leadership skills and strategies that directly affect their personal and team success. Participants focus on non-sport-specific concepts in an environment that fosters inclusion across the sports community. The NCAA Academy 2.0, exclusively created for WCA graduates, is a master-learning opportunity in a small class setting that progresses on the leadership, strategies, and knowledge gained from their WCA experience.
WeCOACH multiplied by seven times Academy scholarship funding provided to this year’s participants thanks to generous funding from Hudl, Endeavor, Natasha Watley Foundation, along with numerous individual donors. In addition, the United States Marine Corps partnered to sponsor this year’s Academy graduation ceremonies and had a Marine representative offer closing remarks to both classes.
“The Academy experience is truly magical in terms of the powerful knowledge gained and lasting relationships formed. Our graduates leave feeling empowered, inspired and motivated to be the best possible leaders for the student-athletes they coach, and the data demonstrates our Academy graduates remain in the coaching profession at a higher rate than the national average. Our staff and Board once again assembled a stellar lineup of faculty to pour into the participants and we look forward to unveiling some new traditions as part of our WCA 20th anniversary celebration,” said Vanessa Fuchs, CEO of WeCOACH.
Corporate sponsors of the transformational programs included: The United States Marine Corps, Hudl, Endeavor, Truist, Gatorade Performance Partner, Athlete Assessments, The Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, Human Kinetics, Natasha Watley Foundation and The Sports Bra Project.
May 22-24 NCAA Women Coaches Academy Class #52 Participants:
- Desi Abeyta, Sonoma State, Head Coach, Basketball
- Courtney Allen, Shenandoah University, Head Coach, Softball
- Morgan Allison–Prokhin, St. Francis College Brooklyn, Assistant Coach, Water Polo
- Vernisha Andrews, Florida Southern College, Assistant Coach, Basketball
- Raquel Atawo, Washington State University, Head Coach, Tennis
- Vanese Barnes, Tufts University, Graduate Assistant Coach, Basketball
- Angelica Baylon, California State University Stanislaus, Assistant Coach, Basketball
- Madeline Beal, DePaul University, Assistant Coach, Volleyball
- Sam Benzing, College of St. Scholastica, Assistant Coach, Skiing
- Kari-lei Berry, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Head Coach, Lacrosse
- Ashley Bishop, Bridgewater State University, Head Coach, Field Hockey
- Priscilla Brooks, California State University San Bernardino, Assistant Coach, Basketball
- Coretta Brown, Eastern Kentucky University, Assistant Coach, Basketball
- Liz-Amanda Brown, South Carolina State University, Head Coach, Soccer
- Tyler Brown, Illinois Wesleyan University, Assistant Coach, Volleyball
- Leanne Cardoso-Bastos, Allegheny College, Assistant Coach, Soccer
- Britney Carrington, USA Wrestling, Head Coach, Wrestling
- Katrina Carter, University of California at Berkeley, Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
- Dani Castro, Indiana University, Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
- Kara Christian, Presbyterian College, Head Coach, Acrobatics & Tumbling
- April Cornell-DeAngelis, Colgate University, Head Coach, Field Hockey
- Jazmine Craig, St. Francis College Brooklyn, Assistant Coach, Volleyball
- Sarah Dessner, Georgian Court University, Assistant Coach, Basketball
- Michele Dombrowski, The University of the South, Head Coach, Lacrosse & Field Hockey
- Emiria Dunn, Sonoma State, Head Coach, Soccer
- Sara Emerich, Manchester University, Head Coach, Softball
- Kate Faix Bennett, Las Positas College, Head Water Polo Coach, Assistant Swimming & Diving Coach
- Treasure Fields, Baylor University, Director of Operations, Acrobatics & Tumbling
- Lauren Flowers, California State University Stanislaus, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Megan Frazer, Stanford University, Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
- Sareea Freeman, Events DC, Volleyball
- Bronwen Gainsford, Wittenberg University, Head Coach, Field Hockey
- Sade Gant, North Central College, Graduate Assistant Coach, Track & Field
- Laura Gebhart, Penn State University, Associate Head Coach, Field Hockey
- Grace Goodbarn, Centre College, Head Coach, Field Hockey
- Christine Griffith, Cleveland State University, Head Coach, Fencing
- Jane Grimley-Gunn, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Head Coach, Soccer
- Caitlin Hadzimichalis, King’s College, Head Coach, Basketball
- Myia Hambrick, University of Utah, Volunteer Assistant Coach, Gymnastics
- Michaela Hamilton, Olivet College, Head Coach, Softball
- Nicole Hannan, Volleyball Australia, Assistant Coach, Volleyball
- Kaylee Harnen, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Assistant Coach, Ice Hockey
- Jaleesa Harper, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Perrmella Harris, Morgan State University, Associate Head Coach, Acrobatics & Tumbling
- Annabel Harvey, Henderson State University, Head Coach, Tennis & Cross Country
- Jeri Jacobson Owsley, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Head Coach, Basketball
- Megan Jensen, Washington College, Assistant Coach, Soccer
- Sara Johnson, University of Minnesota, Director of Operations, Soccer
- Kamille Jones, University of Illinois Springfield, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Sydney Kanne, Willamette University, Assistant Coach, Swimming
- Samantha Kastner, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Head Coach, Softball
- Grainne Kelly, Illinois Wesleyan University, Head Coach, Lacrosse
- Jordan Koehler, Saint Mary’s College, Head Coach, Golf
- Diana Kussainova, Georgetown University, Assistant Coach, Tennis
- Erin Labasan, Lewis & Clark College, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Callie Lekas, Wellesley College, Head Coach, Field Hockey
- Elizabeth Levy, Case Western Reserve University, Assistant Coach, Swimming & Diving
- Mikayla Lopez, Bethany College, Head Coach, Basketball
- Sam Mancinelli, Tufts University, Assistant Coach, Basketball
- Josie Matlick, Davis & Elkins College, Assistant Coach, Soccer
- Kate McCauley, Saint Vincent College, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Jill McCormick, Santa Rosa Junior College, Head Coach, Swimming & Diving
- Camille McPherson, Capital University, Head Coach, Basketball
- Genee McRath, Tennessee State University, Head Coach, Softball
- Donye’ Monroe, Manchester University, Head Coach, Soccer
- Erin Moore, Bentley University, Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
- Kelsey Morrison, Geneva College, Head Coach, Soccer
- Ellen Newton, D’Youville University, Assistant Coach, Lacrosse
- Mary Nolte, Williams College, Assistant Coach, Track & Field/Cross-Country
- Rachel Oberholtzer, Fort Valley State University, Assistant Coach, Softball
- Arlicia Ortiz, Fayetteville State University, Assistant Coach, Volleyball
- Christiana Oyawale, Barry university, Assistant Coach, Volleyball
- Pamela Perkins, Tuskegee University, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Breena Proctor, Mount Holyoke College, Head Coach, Soccer
- Brittney Randolph, Head Coach, Field Hockey
- Ashley Reinecke, Transylvania University, Co-Head Coach, Soccer
- Krista Rice, Oakland University, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Lisa Ritchie, Mount Holyoke College, Assistant Coach, Track & Field
- Erin Rotchford, SUNY Morrisville, Head Coach, Basketball
- Alicia Schuck, Rollins College, Head Coach, Soccer
- Noelani Schulmeyer, Amherst College, Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
- Melissa Schwab, Elmhurst University, Head Coach, Golf & Basketball
- Jessica Scott, University of Minnesota, Assistant Coach, Ice Hockey
- Mikie Sevick, West Virginia University, Assistant Coach, Rowing
- Roseanna Smith, Oberlin College, Running Backs Coach, Football
- Tra’Dayja Smith, Saint Louis University, Assistant Coach, Basketball
- Jennifer Spalding, Citrus College, Head Coach, Water Polo
- Morgan Stacey, St. Norbert College, Assistant Coach, Ice Hockey
- Jennifer Stadler, Chadron State College, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Katie Stansbury, Oberlin College, Assistant Coach, Volleyball
- Magda Stepnik, Bates College, Assistant Coach, Tennis
- Cailyn Straubel, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Sydney Supica, Brown University, Assistant Coach, Field Hockey
- Alyssa Taramona, Texas Woman’s University, Assistant Coach, Soccer
- Kelcie Tolan, Cal State University San Bernardino, Assistant Coach, Volleyball
- Lauren Torvi Prochazka, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Katie Trace, The Ohio State University, Assistant Coach, Swimming & Diving
- Morgan Tucker, California State University Monterey Bay, Assistant Coach, Water Polo
- Kristen Van Iderstine, Brown University, Director of Football Administration, Football
- Tiana Webster, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Assistant Coach, Track & Field/Cross-Country
- Kim Wudi, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Kaye Zoolakis, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, Assistant Coach, Swimming & Diving
May 21-23 NCAA Academy 2.0 Class #6 Participants:
- Dawn Barnes, Upward Stars Columbia VBC, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Noelle Brouillard, Whitworth University, Head Coach, Lacrosse
- Christine Clancy, Washington and Lee University, Head Coach, Basketball
- Pietie Coetzee-Turner, Wake Forest University, Associate Head Coach, Field Hockey
- Angela Dendas-Pleasant, Lewis & Clark College, Head Strength Coach, Strength & Conditioning
- Lilia Dosalmas, University of California Santa Cruz, Head Coach, Soccer
- Ashley Johnson, Colorado College, Assistant Coach, Lacrosse
- Szandra Kiss, Arizona State University, Assistant Coach, Water Polo
- Olivia Leavitt, Lehigh University, Head Coach, Tennis
- Laura LeDuc, Trojan Aquatics, Head Coach, Aquatics & Water Polo
- Justine Lombardi, St. Francis College Brooklyn, Head Coach, Soccer
- Amy Long, Saint Mary’s College, Head Coach, Lacrosse
- Kat Mertz, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Head Coach, Soccer
- Camise Patterson, Florida A&M University, Head Coach, Softball
- Jen Scanlon, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, Head Coach, Soccer
- Emily Schmit, California State University, Monterey Bay, Head Coach, Water Polo
- Abbey Sutherland, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Donika Sutton, Tennessee State University, Head Coach, Volleyball
- Benay Weintraub, Caltech, Head Coach, Tennis
- Kari Williams, Rutgers University, Head Coach, Golf
