Francis Marion University senior guard Camryn Johnson has been selected to participate the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) "So You Want To Be A Coach" program.  The 18-year initiative is in partnership with WeCOACH,

Johnson is one of 32 selectees, covering all three divisions of the NCAA and the NAIA.  Each student-athlete will participate in a one-day online workshop on March 30.

The objectives of the "So" program are to increase the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure coaching positions in women's basketball, increase the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in coaching, introduce female basketball players to coaches and administrators, and raise awareness of the existing talent pool of female basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching the game of women's basketball.  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. 

Selectees must have exhausted their final year of basketball eligibility at a four-year institution or have graduated within the past year. In addition, the candidate's head coach has to nominate them and must be an active WBCA member. 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.

Johnson, a native of Fort Washington, Md., appeared in 12 contests this past season, making three starts, and averaged 2.5 points and 2.1 assists per game.  She spent her freshman season at Division I University of Louisiana at Monroe.  In her three years as a Patriot, she played in 65 games (30 starts) and tallied 163 points and 134 assists.  A psychology major, she has been named to the FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll three times.

"I was happy to nominate Camryn," said FMU head coach Jeri Porter.  "She has exhibited all the attributes needed to enter the coaching profession, including a pure love of the game and a high basketball IQ.  This will help accelerate her career path into the coaching field."

"This initiative is the longest-running and most popular education program the WBCA offers," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "Each year, the WBCA family of coaches reinforces its support for this important entry-level program into the coaching profession. We are grateful to WeCoach for its partnership, which helps us take this highly successful program to the next level. We expect to see these former student-athletes develop over time into great leaders of and ambassadors for the game of women's basketball."

"In a year marked by the pandemic, we are so thrilled the WBCA continues to prioritize providing this premier program," said WeCOACH CEO Megan Kahn. Our partnership with the 'So' program is helping pave the way for the future of women in coaching, which is so needed to give them an access point.  We congratulate the 2021 participants and look forward to supporting and developing them as they aspire to enter the coaching profession."

Founded in 2011, WeCOACH has become the premier membership organization committed to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches across all sports and levels.

Johnson is the second FMU player to be selected for the program, joining Rita Grayson who was selected in 2008.
 
Members of the 2021 "So You Want To Be A Coach" program class:
Name            Institution                Division
Kaitlin Aylward        University of St. Francis (IL)        NAIA
Jessica Camarda        Adelphi University            NCAA II
Sydney Ann Cottrell    Texas A&M University            NCAA I
Jayla Davis        Sacred Heart University            NCAA I
Jessica Day        Jacksonville State University        NCAA I
Gabrielle Doud        Western Colorado University        NCAA II
Aaliyah Dunham        Xavier University            NCAA I
Julie Fournier        Colorado Christian University        NCAA II
Sydney Goodson        Kansas State University            NCAA I
Claire Gritt        University of Denver            NCAA I
Emily Hatfield        Tennessee Tech University        NCAA I
Jordynn Hernandez    University of Texas–Arlington        NCAA I
Kelly Jekot        Penn State University            NCAA I
Camryn Johnson        Francis Marion University        NCAA II
Taylor Kissinger    University of Nebraska            NCAA I
Breion Knox        Fairleigh Dickinson University–Florham    NCAA III
Kyra Lambert        University of Texas            NCAA I
Tierney Lockett        Lewis University            NCAA II
Makayla Mabry        Abilene Christian University        NCAA I
Mallory Odell        Longwood University            NCAA I
Elizabeth Oswald    University of Wisconsin–Stout        NCAA III
Eveline Parsons        Tusculum University            NCAA II
Destiny Pitts        Texas A&M University            NCAA I
Katherine Puda        Brandeis University            NCAA III
Zion Sanders        University of Iowa            NCAA I
Anne Secrest        Indiana Wesleyan University        NAIA
Dakota Spears        Siena Heights University        NAIA
Faith Troshynski    Concordia University (NE)        NAIA
Abby Vampatella        Gordon College                NCAA III
Chinickqua Walker    Clemson University            NCAA I
Aaliyah Wilson        Texas A&M University            NCAA I
LaKaitlin Wright    Towson University            NCAA I