Marissa Prall to Participate in Annual WBCA Program
ATLANTA, Ga. – Marissa Prall (Hopkinton, Mass.), senior guard for the Regis College women's basketball team, has been selected as one of 61 student-athletes across all divisions of the NCAA and NAIA to participate in the 19th "So You Want To Be A Coach" program March 31 and April 1 during the WBCA Convention in Minneapolis, site of the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four.
The two-day workshop is led by a partnership between the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition, and WeCOACH, a membership organization committed to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches across all sports and levels.
Prall is a four-year member of the Pride women's basketball team and is one of the captains of this year's squad. She started all nine games she appeared in this season, scoring a season-high 13 points and collecting four steals during Regis' 69-55 victory over Dean Dec. 1.
"I think my biggest goal for this conference is to expand my network in the coaching world as well as gain more knowledge into college coaching to help me find a graduate assistant position," Prall said. "After suffering an ACL tear earlier this month that ended my playing career, I am trying to look at the positive side and jumpstart my coaching career from the sidelines as well as attend this exciting conference."
Prall is on track to graduate this May with her bachelor's degree in sports management, plus she is minoring in athletic coaching. A two-time Academic All-GNAC honoree, Prall was Regis' representative on the GNAC Women's Basketball All-Sportsmanship Team after the 2018-19 season.
According to the WBCA, the program increases the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure coaching positions in women's basketball, increases the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in coaching, introduces female basketball players to coaches and administrators, and raises awareness of the existing talent pool of female basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching the game of women's basketball.
Program participants will learn about the administrative side of coaching, recruiting, how to get hired, skill development, the importance of knowing the rules, and how to balance work and life. Each participant is selected based on her academics, contributions to women's basketball on and off the court, professional resume, and a written recommendation from their head coach.