Feb. 6, 2009

LOGAN, Utah - Four Utah State seniors will be involved in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) seventh annual WBCA's So You Want To Be A Coach program. Danyelle Snelgro, Ana Pares, Shawnta Pope and Ndoubme Diop will take part in the two-and-a-half day workshop that will be held in conjunction with the WBCA National Convention on April 3- 7 in St. Louis, Mo.

"It is a tremendous honor that all four of our seniors were selected by the WBCA," head coach Raegan Pebley said. "They are each deserving. It reflects the great reputations of Utah State University, our program and the WAC."

The WBCA has been a cornerstone in developing an organization that meets the needs of women, while promoting the game of basketball and its development, as well as unifying coaches on every level. The So You Want To Be A Coach Program was designed to increase the amount of minorities in the coaching profession, by providing a workshop based on educational and professional principles to help those interested in the field.

"For the past seven years the WBCA has made a commitment to diversify the coaching world in any way we can," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "The `So You Want To Be A Coach' program has really taken off. We have seen some great coaches develop as a result of it, and we are ecstatic to see what this year's class brings to the basketball world."

The purpose of the So You Want To Be A Coach workshop is to provide an educational and professional foundation for minority female basketball players in order to better prepare them for entering the coaching profession. So You Want To Be A Coach workshop is two and a half days of superior programming. The goal is to increase the number of minority female basketball players who aspire to coach. The coaching lessons shared with these participants will assist in identifying, recruiting, and retaining minority women in the profession of coaching.

"It warms my heart that all four of them have a desire to join the awesome profession of coaching. Just like teachers, coaches have the unique opportunity to impact young people, and it is a precious responsibility. Danny, Ana, Shawnta and Ndoumbe will in no doubt be alumni that make us proud," Pebley said.

Each participant is honored with a certificate of completion, and their resumes are placed on wbca.org and the WBCA Career and Resource web site powered by Athleticlink.com, a web site career center listing candidates who desire a job in sports.

The Aggies are back in action on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 3 p.m. MT against first-place Nevada in Reno.

-USU-