Sobolewski Takes Part in Center for Coaching Excellence

POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State women's basketball coach Seton Sobolewski spent last week at Columbia University where he participated in The Center for Coaching Excellence, an invitation only two-and-a-half day elite leadership program.

Created in 2011 through a partnership between Columbia and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, and funded in part through a grant from the NCAA, the CCE provides an unparalleled, exclusive learning experience for attendees. This marked the fifth session of the program (two sessions were previously held in both 2011 and 2012), which has now enriched the lives of more than 140 coaches of women's basketball.

“In my 10 plus years of coaching at the Division I level, I have never been a part of a better professional development event,” Sobolewski said. “I was extremely impressed with how well the event was organized, the topics covered, the speakers who participated, and the camaraderie that was built over the two and a half day event.”

Capitalizing on the resources of Columbia University, one of the world's leading research universities, and utilizing collaborative and interactive learning sessions along with lectures and panel discussions featuring experts in college athletics, the CCE gives college women's basketball coaches valuable networking opportunities with their peers and top industry leaders.

“I feel that The Center of Coaching Excellence is an excellent program that is going to improve the game of women's basketball,” Sobolewski said. “By enhancing our head coaches' leadership skills, we hope to see a “trickle down” effect that will eventually lead to benefiting our student athletes.”

Coaches who attended the June 3-5 session included Keith Adams of the University of Texas at El Paso, Karen Aston of the University of Texas, Jennie Baranczyk of Drake University, Tricia Binford of Montana State University, Greg Brown of Lipscomb University, Todd Buchanan of the University of Houston, Jean Marie Burr of Brown University, Dan Burt of Duquesne University, Kevin Cook of Winthrop University, Charity Elliott of Loyola Marymount University, Lori Gear McBride of the University of Vermont, Jen Hoover of Wake Forest University, Cathy Inglese of the University of Rhode Island, Ali Jaques of Siena College, Bobbie Kelsey of the University of Wisconsin, Jodi Kest of the University of Akron, Linda Lappe of the University of Colorado, Kellie Lewis-Jay of Florida Atlantic University, Yolett McPhee-McCuin of Jacksonville University, Nyla Milleson of George Mason University, Lynn Milligan of Rider University, Sherri Murrell of Portland State University, Danielle O'Banion of Kent State University, Bethann Ord of Weber State University, Wendy Palmer of UNC-Greensboro, Aaron Roussell of Bucknell University, Vic Schaefer of Mississippi State University, Nicole Scholl of Binghampton University, Seton Sobolewski of Idaho State University, Todd Starkey of Lenoir-Rhyne University, Joe Tartamella of St. John's University and Bryan Whitten of Mount St. Mary's University.

Dr. Cathie T. Siders, a clinical psychologist, organizational consultant and executive coach, facilitated group-learning sessions. Other sessions featured panel discussions from a wide variety of leaders from both the college athletics industry and other sectors of industry.

"For the third consecutive year, I am thrilled to work with the exceptional men and women that steward the game of college women's basketball," said Siders. "I find our nation's college women's basketball head coaches to be wonderful teachers and mentors, who are committed to the young women on their teams. These coaches appreciate refining their leadership skills to add to their coaching repertoire. "

“I cannot thank the NCAA and the WBCA enough for supporting The Center of Coaching Excellence,” Sobolewski said.

The faculty for the June 3-5 session of CCE included Anucha Browne, vice president of women's basketball championships, NCAA; Val Ackerman, strategic consultant, NCAA and faculty, Columbia University School of Continuing Education; Rich Ensor, commissioner, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference; Jeffrey H. Orleans, consultant, Alden and Associates; Jody Conradt, special assistant, University of Texas; Stephanie Glance, head women's basketball coach, Columbia University; Jim Jabir, head women's basketball coach, University of Dayton; outgoing WBCA President Charli Turner Thorne, head women's basketball coach, Arizona State University; Jim Delany, commissioner, Big Ten Conference; and Rebecca Halstead, brigadier general, US Army (Ret.).