Atlanta, GA - Manhattan women's basketball senior guard
Amani Tatum (Cambria Heights, NY / James Madison) has been selected to participate in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) 16th annual
"So You Want to Be a Coach" program, to be held in Columbus, OH March 28-30 in conjunction with the organization's convention and prior to the 2018 Women's Final Four.
Held in partnership with the Alliance for Women's Coaches, the three-day workshop and lecture program provides participants with professional development and career networking opportunities. They will also 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.
"I definitely want to be able to influence women who are playing the game, and I think something like this can help tremendously," says Tatum, who has served as captain of the women's basketball team for three consecutive years. "When you play basketball and then get into coaching, you can tell your story and share your experience."
One of just 62 total players and the only one from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) selected for the "So" program, Tatum began her collegiate playing career at James Madison, but soon found that being far from where she grew up in Queens was not for her. After transferring to Manhattan, Tatum saw the experience as a journey, something she could share with teammates and other young players who may be going through similar issues.
"I think I'm a good listener," says Tatum, a trait that has also led her to pursue a master's degree in counseling at Manhattan. "I think people want to tell you what they're going through, and I think that [quality] could translate into helping people become better players; help them in all areas, not just what they're really good at." In addition to her interest in coaching, Tatum works with Manhattan's summer literacy program and makes visits to Monsignor Scanlan High School in the Bronx to speak to students about what it takes to be a college basketball player.
Qualified candidates for the WBCA's "So" program are 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. The candidate's head coach must nominate them and be an active WBCA member. 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.
"We are all thrilled that Amani was selected for this tremendous honor," says Manhattan Head Coach
Heather Vulin, who took over the program in 2016 and has coached Tatum for two years. "The WBCA has produced and developed so many wonderful coaches with this program and I am extremely proud to have Amani selected. Amani has been a joy to work with. She is a very passionate player and unselfish teammate who our team relies on for her leadership and consistency. As a three-time captain, she takes pride in being a leader and a motivator for her team. I believe she will be an outstanding coach one day."
The WBCA "So" program has graduated 814 participants in its 15-year history. Of these, 54 percent (not counting the 2017 class) are currently working in women's or girls' basketball at various levels of the profession. A total of 53 "So" 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.
When asked for one word to describe what kind of coach she will be, Tatum laughingly says "intense."
"I feel like I'm a super competitor," she adds. "When I'm in my zone, I feel like the intensity and the level of focus is at an all-time high. Me yelling and being a leader, it's how I'd want my kids to play. To have a level of intensity that can't be matched."
