Photo By Cpl. Naomi May | COLUMBUS, Ohio — Master Sgt. Damian Cason speaks to coaches and student athletes who...... read more read more
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COLUMBUS, OH – U.S. Marines partnered with the 2018 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Symposium at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, March 29 - April 1.
The partnership between the Marine Corps and WBCA creates awareness of Marine Corps service among influencers in female basketball programs. The symposium allowed the Marines to directly engage with approximately 2,000 WBCA members, which included coaches, assistant coaches, athletic directors and other influencers.
“We’re looking to make our communities better,” said Master Sgt. Damian Cason, the community engagement chief of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command. “We’re a part of these communities just like WBCA is, so as they are building the next generation of leaders, so are we. When we partnered together, they gave us a little more access to the athletes we’re looking for. If they don’t decide to take that path, we would have at least made an impact on them, and they too will be successful citizens in our society.”
The WBCA was established in 1981 to address the needs of women’s basketball coaches. The organization is headquartered in Lilburn, Georgia and is committed to serving its members and helping grow women’s basketball by providing educational programs, network opportunities, news, legislative and rule updates, and acting as the collective voice to the NCAA and other governing bodies of the sport.
The Marine Corps and WBCA's partnership began in 2013 and has provided WBCA members knowledge regarding career opportunities in the Corps and how Marines lead others at various levels. It also lends Marines opportunities to network with impacting leaders who can open doors to more events for Marine recruiters to attend in their search for individuals who share the Marines' fighting spirit.
“The partnership with the Marine Corps is incredibly beneficial to the WBCA,” said Danielle Donehew, the executive director of the WBCA. “Our coaches’ greatest calling is building people, leaders and young people who are not only successful on the basketball court, but successful in life. The Marine Corps has a similar outlook on their training, leadership and expectations for their men and women to be successful throughout their ranks, and our partnership reinforces that commitment.”
On the first day, Marine Corps leaders and WBCA welcomed hundreds of attendees during the symposium’s welcome reception. The following morning, the Marines hosted a "Wake Up and Workout," which allowed attendees the chance to engage in a physically-challenging morning fitness experience. Later that afternoon, Maj. Eric Williams, commanding officer of Recruiting Station Charleston, West Virginia, presented the National Coaches of the Year awards to five women’s basketball coaches: Ashland University’s Robyn Fralick from Ashland, Ohio; Moberly Area Community College’s Chad Killinger from Moberly, Missouri; Concordia University's Drew Olson from Seward, Nebraska; Wartburg College's Bob Amsberry from Waverly, Iowa; and Mississippi State University’s Vic Schaefer, from Starkville, Mississippi.
“The issues these coaches are dealing with, with their young women on their basketball teams, are the same issues that we see with females in our pool and female Marines, and male Marines too; it’s not gender specific,” said Williams. “It’s very interesting to hear their challenges, as well as their solutions, because they have things that they do that we could definitely use and vice versa; that’s why this partnership works so well.”
During the remainder of the symposium, Marines hosted various classes about what makes stronger leaders in regards to ethics, integrity and leadership styles. Attendees were also able to visit the courtside exposition, where Marines educated all levels of influencers about the Marine Corps and invited more to engage in conversation; Marines also handed out Marine Corps incentive items upon the completion of their dialogue.
Kylene Spiegel, the head coach of the women’s basketball team for Lawrence Technological University, in Southfield, Michigan, explained the importance of the Marines’ presence at WBCA and how it can impact a sports team.
”The most important things that I have learned and taken away [from the Marines] are discipline and leadership,” said Spiegel. “I think to have any good basketball team or to be a good leader, you have to develop yourself as a person, as a coach or as an athlete to get better in those areas, because you need leadership and discipline in every part of your life to really be successful.”
During the Friday night NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four Semi-Finals and Sunday’s finals, the Marine Corps provided an all-female color guard to open the night to honor the centennial celebration of women serving in the Corps.
“100 years of women leaders in the Marine Corps is tremendous … one aspect of the Marine Corps that is incredibly powerful to us, is their importance of building women leaders,” said Donehew. “This partnership is one that we are very proud to put before our coaches and student athletes to encourage student athletes to consider a career in the Marines.”
Since Opha Mae Johnson enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1918 and became the first female Marine, the Corps has continued to open opportunities to women. Now, 100 years after Johnson enlisted, all military occupational specialties have been opened to women Marines, and the Corps continuously looks to strengthen its female presence in its ranks.
“The Marine Corps makes the relationship fun, but they reinforce discipline, teamwork and that they care … It makes for a deeper partnership,” Donehew explained. “I would encourage anyone that is interested in working with the Marines to make sure you give them a platform, to make sure you give them an opportunity to be present because it is incredibly impactful.”
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2018 18:50 |
| Story ID: | 271415 |
| Location: | COLUMBUS, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 176 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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