DENVER – Emma Gerhold, who recently completed her first year as an assistant coach with the Loyola University Maryland women's track and field program, will join 44 other women coaches from across the country at this week's NCAA Women Coaches Academy.
 
Gerhold will be a part of the 51st class of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy this week in the program hosted by WeCOACH in conjuction with the national governing body.
 
"The NCAA is proud to once again partner with WeCOACH to host the 2022 NCAA Women Coaches Academy and NCAA Academy 2.0," said DeeDee Merritt, the NCAA's director of leadership development. "The NCAA Leadership Development Office serves to educate and empower student-athletes, coaches and athletics administrators through transformative experiences that develop strong, effective leaders, cultivate an inclusive community and enhance the college sports landscape.
 
"These Academies for women coaches align with our mission and have had tremendous results in supporting, advancing and retaining women coaches in collegiate athletics."
 
The NCAA WCA is designed for women coaches who are ready to elevate their holistic coaching effectiveness by learning advanced leadership skills and strategies that directly affect their personal and team success. Participants will 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 skills, strategies, and knowledge gained from their WCA experience.
 
"We are thrilled to return to in-person Academies this year and welcome our NCAA Women Coaches Academy Class No. 51 and NCAA Academy 2.0 Class No. five to Denver," said WeCOACH CEO Vanessa Fuchs. "The programs are our signature growth and leadership development events and the data demonstrates the significant impact.
 
"Women coaches who graduate from our Academies remain in the coaching profession at a higher rate. And as we approach Title IX's 50th anniversary, there's no better time than now to move the numbers in terms of increasing women in coaching and these Academies are one of the many ways WeCOACH is able to achieve that."
 
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.