UNITED STATES – WeCOACH announced the 53rd class of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA) and the 7th class of NCAA Academy 2.0, taking place June 16-19, in Denver, Colorado. Of the coaches invited to the WCA, Western Michigan softball head coach Marlee Wilson will be one of 95 women coaches that will convene in Denver.

"I am excited to be chosen as a part of the 53rd class of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA), hosted in partnership between WeCOACH and the NCAA, and the 7th class of NCAA Academy 2.0. I am thankful for this development opportunity that Western Michigan Athletics values and supports." noted Wilson. "I look forward to connecting with the 95 other women participants and learning about their professions, experiences and leadership techniques. I am confident I will gain knowledge and empowerment by integrating and engaging with my classmates and use this experience to better the WMU Softball program."

The WCA program is designed to incorporate guest speakers, breakout sessions, and individualized game planning to create a balanced and informative experience. The valuable lessons Wilson will learn at the event will be brought and incorporated into the WMU softball program and the WMU athletic department as a whole. The 95 coaches from around the nation will participate in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, with 24 engaging in the advanced NCAA Academy 2.0 program. These women represent 25 different sports, including five of the six NCAA Emerging Sports, and come from a diverse range of institutions including NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, NAIA, 3C2A, NJCAA, and NWAC.

WeCOACH is a one-of-a-kind nonprofit membership organization dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels through year-round professional growth & leadership development programs.  WeCOACH programs focus on offering strategies to navigate the challenges and obstacles women face to stay in, feel supported, and advance in the coaching profession. At the event, Wilson will gain unmatched empowerment, depth, and richness by integrating & engaging with coaches from all sports & levels.

These academies, hosted in partnership with the NCAA, provide multi-day growth and leadership development for women coaches across all sports and collegiate levels, including two-year and four-year colleges.

"The NCAA is proud to once again partner with WeCOACH to host the 2024 NCAA Women Coaches Academy and NCAA Academy 2.0. The NCAA Leadership Development Office serves to educate and empower student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrators through transformative experiences that develop strong, effective leaders, cultivate an inclusive community, and enhance the college sports landscape", said DeeDee Merritt, NCAA Managing Director of Leadership Development. "These Academies for women coaches align with our mission and have had tremendous results in supporting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in collegiate athletics. WeCOACH performs a valuable service in providing support and development for women coaches across the collegiate sports landscape. Collaborative efforts such as this allow us to expand our reach and broaden our impact."

This year, WeCOACH will honor the five recipients of the 2023-24 WeCOACH Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Jostens. Academy Participants will also have a chance to learn from the honorees during a keynote conversation session presented by Hudl.

"The Academy experience is truly magical in terms of the powerful knowledge gained and lasting relationships formed. Our graduates leave feeling empowered, inspired, and motivated to be the best possible leaders for the student-athletes they coach, and the data demonstrates our Academy graduates remain in the coaching profession at a higher rate than the national average," said Vanessa Fuchs, CEO of WeCOACH. "Thanks to generous donor support, we awarded over $50,000 in scholarship funds to 43 coaches, furthering our mission to support women coaches and ensuring affordable access for all WeCOACH programming."

Over 2,200 graduates have participated in the NCAA WCA, a program designed for women coaches to elevate their holistic coaching effectiveness by learning advanced leadership skills and strategies that directly affect their personal and team success. Participants focus on non-sport-specific concepts in an environment that fosters inclusion across the sports community. The NCAA Academy 2.0, exclusively created for WCA graduates, is a master-learning opportunity in a small class setting that progresses on the leadership, strategies, and knowledge gained from their WCA experience.

For all things WMU softball, make sure to follow the team on Instagram @wmusoftball_, X @WMUSoftball, and Facebook @westernmichigansoftball.