Henderson chosen for WBCA coaching program

Montana senior Jace Henderson has been chosen to participate in the "So You Want To Be A Coach" developmental program, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced this week.

Held annually, the "So You Want To Be A Coach" program assists female college basketball players or recent graduates who are interested in pursuing a career in coaching.

The program, now in its 17th year, is held each spring at the WBCA Convention, in the days leading up to the women's Final Four. This year's convention will be April 3-5 in Tampa.

The three-day workshop features presenters on 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.

Henderson was one of just 36 Division I women's basketball players or graduates selected to participate following an in-depth application process, along with a handful of players from other levels of the sport.

She'll be in Tampa with three women she's crossed paths with this season, from teams Montana faced during its nonconference schedule: Christina Ekhomu, a graduate assistant coach at Northern Illinois, and Hannah Johnson, of Washington, and Destiny Graham, of Arizona, both seniors.

Also attending the workshop in April will be Laramie Schwenke, a graduate assistant coach at Idaho State, the team Montana faces in Pocatello on Thursday night.

"I'm going to be able to meet some amazing minds and some really great basketball players and coaches," said Henderson. "To get to meet some people who want to follow the same career path as I do will be super cool."

Henderson learned of the program from Lady Griz assistant coach Mike Petrino, who coached a player at Wyoming, Kaylie Rader, who attended a previous workshop and is now a graduate assistant at Texas Woman's University

Coaching is in her family's history and it's been Henderson's goal since she arrived on campus in 2014, but her vision is also broader than that. Coaching is just one possible avenue to take to get there.

"I want to make an impact on women's lives and be a positive influence and help build character," she says. "If that's in coaching or in leadership development or a completely different job, then great.

"I just want to make an impact. That's my ultimate goal."

Of the 800-plus participants who have gone through the "So You Want To Be A Coach" program the last 16 years, more than 400 are now working as coaches or in some other role in the sport.

"Her desire to learn about the game and her ability to relate to people is huge," said Shannon Schweyen, now in her 27th year as a coach at Montana. "She has a great way with people.

"She's one of those kids who has incredible enthusiasm all the time. That's another big asset for her."

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