Four Atlantic 10 coaches will be participatinf in the upcoming NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA) Class #56 and NCAA Academy 2.0 (A2.0) Class #9, taking place May 17-20, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.
Davidson head women's tennis coach Susanne Depka, Madison Evans, a strength coach at Saint Louis, Sophie McKnight, an assistant women's soccer coach at Davidson and Samantha Schwartz, a La Salle women's lacorsse assistant will all participate. Additionally, the head coach of Duquesne's Acrobatic and Tumbling Michaela Soper, was also selected.

Hosted in partnership with the NCAA, these premier leadership development programs provide multi-day, transformational experiences for women coaches across all sports and collegiate levels.
This year, 122 women coaches will participate, including 98 in the NCAA WCA and 24 in A2.0. Participants represent 20 sports and a broad range of institutions, including NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, as well as the NAIA, 3C2A, NJCAA, and others. Attendees include head and assistant coaches, administrators, graduate assistants, and strength coaches. The Atlantic 10 is a confernece partner with WeCOACH.

“Through its continued partnership with WeCOACH, the NCAA is proud to support and host the 2026 NCAA Women Coaches Academy and NCAA Academy 2.0.,” said DeeDee Merritt, NCAA Managing Director of Leadership Development. “These academies create transformative leadership opportunities that empower women coaches, support their retention, and reinforce the collegiate athletics landscape.”
A highlight of this year’s Academies will be the presentation of the 2025-26 Lifetime Achievement Awards, presented by Jostens, honoring five women coaches for their lasting impact on the profession: Kathy Aspaas, Valorie Kondos Field, Dr. Tina Sloan Green, Billie Jean King, Lorene Ramsey, and Barbara Stevens.

“The Academy provides a transformational experience where participants leave with renewed purpose, actionable strategies, and a lasting support network,” said Vanessa Fuchs, CEO of WeCOACH. “Our data shows graduates continue to remain in coaching at rates well above the national average, and we are committed to broadening that impact. This year, thanks to our generous supporters, we have awarded more than $65,650 in scholarships to 61 participants.”

Since its inception, more than 2,500 coaches have graduated from our Academies. The program focuses on holistic leadership development, equipping women coaches with the skills, confidence, and community to thrive personally and professionally.

NCAA Academy 2.0, designed exclusively for WCA alumnae, offers an advanced, immersive experience with a deeper focus on leadership growth in a highly interactive environment.