Jenny Ryan, the head cross country coach, assistant coach for the men’s and women’s Nordic ski and women’s track and field teams at Northern Michigan University, has been selected to attend the NCAA Women Coaches Academy. It will be held in Denver, Colo. from June 2-6, 2010.

Ryan is one of 25 coaches selected from across the country to attend the academy. The academy provides skills for coaches to assist them in being more efficient, productive, resourceful and successful. The academy is designed for women coaches who are ready and willing to increase their individual effectiveness by learning advanced skills and strategies that directly affect their personal and team success.

Ryan feels this is an excellent opportunity for her to grow and develop as a coach.

“I am really excited for the opportunity to go to the NCAA Women Coaches Academy,” Ryan said. “It is a small group that applied to get into the academy. I think it will be a great learning experience. Hopefully I will come back with more knowledge and experience which will help me lead the teams I am involved with.”

The participants learn skills that are not sport specific, yet are relevant and necessary for coaching responsibilities.

Components of the academy include philosophy and fundamentals (philosophies of coaching, learning styles and teaching methods), management skills (ethics, decision making and management methods), communication strategies and career development.

The three main objectives to the Women Coaches Academy include: skills development (professional development in areas outside the X’s and O’s of their sport), retention (inspire and motivate women coaches to remain in the coaching profession) and mentoring (provide a framework for interaction between women in all aspects of athletics).

–– NMU Sports Information