COLUMBIA, S.C. – Benedict College head softball coach and Student-Athlete Academic Enhancement Counselor Amari Lawson has been selected to attend the upcoming Women's Coaches Academy (WCA) NCAA Academy 2.0, hosted by WeCOACH and the NCAA.
 
The 54th class of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA) and the 8th class of NCAA Academy 2.0 are set to take place May 18-21, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Hosted in collaboration with the NCAA, these impactful Academies offer multi-day transformational experiences focused on leadership development and personal growth for women coaches from all sports and collegiate levels, including both two-year and four-year institutions.
 
Lawson is already a graduate of the Women Coaches Academy and returns to participate in the NCAA Academy 2.0, designed to help take their coaching game to the next level. Academy 2.0 is an advanced program exclusively for WCA alumnae, and offers a deeper dive into leadership and professional growth in a highly interactive, small-group setting.
 
In her first season as head coach of the Benedict College Lady Tigers softball team, Lawson guided Benedict to an 18-22 overall record and 12-12 in the SIAC.
 
This year, over 100 women coaches will gather in Denver, with 85 coaches participating in the NCAA WCA and 18 advancing through the NCAA Academy 2.0 program. These women represent 24 different sports, including several NCAA emerging sports, and come from a diverse collection of institutions across NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, as well as the NAIA, 3C2A, NJCAA, and NWAC.
 
"The NCAA is proud to continue its partnership with WeCOACH to host the 2025 NCAA Women Coaches Academy and NCAA Academy 2.0," said DeeDee Merritt, NCAA Managing Director of Leadership Development. "The NCAA remains committed to educating and empowering student-athletes, coaches, and athletics administrators through transformative experiences that foster effective leadership, promote inclusive excellence, and strengthen the college sports landscape. These academies align seamlessly with our mission and have consistently delivered meaningful outcomes in the support, advancement, and retention of women coaches in collegiate athletics. WeCOACH continues to be an invaluable partner in providing development and community for women coaches. Through collaborations like this, we are able to expand our reach and deepen our impact."
 
A highlight of this year's Academies will be the presentation of the 2024-25 Lifetime Achievement Awards, presented by Jostens, recognizing five outstanding women coaches for their enduring impact on the profession. Attendees will also gain insights and inspiration during a keynote conversation with the honorees.
 
"The Academy experience is nothing short of transformational," said Vanessa Fuchs, CEO of WeCOACH. "Our participants leave feeling renewed and equipped with tools, strategies, and a powerful sisterhood of support. Data shows our graduates remain in the coaching profession at rates well above the national average—and that's the kind of impact we aim to scale. Thanks to our generous donors, we're proud to have awarded more than $39,000 in scholarship funding for Denver participants to expand access and support participation." Since its inception, more than 2,300 coaches have graduated from the NCAA WCA. The program centers on holistic leadership development, providing women coaches with the skills, confidence, and community to elevate their effectiveness both personally and professionally.