Staples Selected to WBCA's “So You Want To Be A Coach” Program
UW-Oshkosh senior forward Madeline Staples has been selected to participate in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) "So You Want To Be A Coach" program.
The WBCA, in partnership with the Alliance of Women Coaches, will conduct the three-day "So You Want To Be A Coach" workshop in conjunction with the WBCA Convention on March 28-30 in Columbus, Ohio.
"We are very appreciative to the WBCA for this opportunity for Madeline," UW-Oshkosh women's basketball head coach Brad Fischer said. "It is always a deep applicant pool across all divisions, so we are extremely excited for her to get a chance to represent Division III and the WIAC. Madeline has all the tools to become an exceptional coach, and this program will only add to her potential down the road."
Staples is among 62 current and former women's basketball players, including nine from NCAA Division III programs, chosen to take part in the 16th annual "So You Want To Be A Coach" program, which provides participants with professional development and career networking opportunities. Seminars will delve into 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.
Qualified candidates for the "So You Want To Be A Coach" program were selected from a list of nominees who have exhausted their final year of basketball eligibility at a four-year institution or have graduated within the past year. Each participant is picked based on her academics, contributions to women's basketball on and off the court, professional resume and a written recommendation from their head coach.
Staples, who earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from UW-Oshkosh in Spring 2016, returned for her fourth season with the Titans after receiving a waiver from the NCAA. She is currently enrolled in UW-Oshkosh's educational leadership graduate program.
After two years as a student at UW-Milwaukee, Staples transferred to UW-Oshkosh and joined the Titan basketball program for the 2014-15 season. The Middleton High School alumna has helped UW-Oshkosh reach the Division III postseason each of her three seasons, including second-round appearances in 2015 and 2016.
Last season, Staples averaged 4.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 27 games played as the Titans won their first outright WIAC title since 1999 and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship.
Staples has played in all 16 games for UW-Oshkosh this season, averaging a career-high 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest while helping the 15th-ranked Titans to a 14-2 record.
During her career, Staples is averaging 3.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in 87 games. UW-Oshkosh sports an 86-19 record during her four seasons.
The WBCA "So You Want To Be A Coach" program has graduated 814 participants in its 15-year history. Fifty-four percent are currently working in women's or girls basketball at various levels of the profession. A total of 53 of the program's alumni are head women's or girls basketball coaches – five in NCAA Division I, three in NCAA Division II, 11 in NCAA Division III, one in the NAIA, four on the two-year college level, and 29 on the high school level.
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