"The June 2012 session of The Center for Coaching Excellence was incredibly successful," said Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, Director, Intercollegiate Athletics and Physical Education at Columbia University.  "After concluding our second year, we have now worked with more than 120 college women's basketball coaches, and we have fine-tuned our program to directly address some of the most pressing issues in college women's basketball."

Capitalizing on the resources of Columbia University, one of the world's leading research universities, and the WBCA, The Center for Coaching Excellence provides an unparalleled, exclusive learning experience. Utilizing collaborative and interactive learning sessions along with lectures and panel discussions featuring experts in college athletics, The Center for Coaching Excellence gives college women's basketball coaches valuable networking opportunities with their peers and top industry leaders.

"The Center for Coaching Excellence gets better every session," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass.  "The Center for Coaching Excellence was outstanding to begin with, and program facilitators Dr. M. Dianne Murphy and Dr. Cathie T. Siders fine-tune the curriculum to pointedly address the hot topics facing college women's basketball today. The result is a two-and a half day program that leaves our coaches educated, motivated and rejuvenated."

"The Center for Coaching Excellence was an outstanding professional development opportunity," remarked Muffet McGraw, Head Women's Basketball Coach, University of Notre Dame.  "While the curriculum was relevant, helpful and interesting, the opportunity to network and share ideas with my colleagues across the coaching ranks were my favorite parts of the program. The Center for Coaching Excellence was a great experience.  I would highly recommend it to any college women's basketball head coach."

"The Center for Coaching Excellence has helped me tremendously," said Jim Jabir, Head Women's Basketball Coach, University of Dayton. "The level of expertise available to us was outstanding.  The faculty that came to speak to us, did so in a very genuine and sincere way, which was very eye-opening for me.  I feel that I am able to redirect my energies and become a better coach, mentor and administrator because of what I learned at The Center for Coaching Excellence."

Dr. Cathie T. Siders, a clinical psychologist, organizational consultant and executive coach, facilitated group-learning sessions. Other sessions featured panel discussions from a wide variety of leaders from both the college athletics industry and other sectors of industry.

"Our nation's college women's basketball head coaches are wonderful teachers and mentors," said Dr. Siders. "The men and women who are stewarding this game are wholly committed to the young women who play for them. For the second straight year, I am thrilled to have worked with these exceptional men and women. They were so hungry for knowledge and insight - and greatly appreciate having extra tools in their leadership toolbox."

"Once again, we assembled an outstanding faculty for The Center for Coaching Excellence," said Dr. Murphy. "We were very fortunate that they were able to take time out of their busy schedules to be with us. With Coach Geno Auriemma preparing for the London Olympics, we were thrilled he was able to join us. Our faculty is first class."

Faculty of the June session of The Center for Coaching Excellence included Julie Roe Lach, Vice President of Enforcement, NCAA; Kevin Anderson, Athletics Director, University of Maryland; Marilyn McNeil, Athletics Director, Monmouth University; Greg Christopher, Athletics Director, Bowling Green State University; Sherri Coale, Head Women's Basketball Coach, University of Oklahoma; Erik Johnson, Head Women's Basketball Coach, Boston College; Geno Auriemma, Head Women's Basketball Coach, University of Connecticut and Head Coach, USA Women's Basketball; Robin Green Harris, Executive Director, Ivy League; Carolyn Schlie Femovich, Executive Director, Patriot League; Beth DeBauche, Commissioner, Ohio Valley Conference and Noreen Morris; Commissioner, Northeast Conference.