From Case Western Reserve University Athletics
Case Western Reserve University Assistant Women's Basketball Coach Brooke Orcutt has been selected as a participant for the 16th-annual "So You Want to Be A Coach" program, coordinated by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the Alliance of Women Coaches.
Each member will participate in the three-day workshop with speakers provided by the Alliance on March 28-30 in conjunction with the WBCA Convention in Columbus, Ohio. The objectives of the "So" program are to increase the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure coaching positions in women's basketball, increase the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in coaching, introduce female basketball players to coaches and administrators, and raise awareness of the existing talent pool of female basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching the game of women's basketball.
"Basketball has always been a big part of my life and I am excited about the potential opportunity of turning that passion into a career," said Orcutt. "I am looking forward to having the opportunity to learn from veteran coaches, network, and meet other young women who are interested in entering the world of collegiate coaching."
Orcutt returned to her alma mater as the program's Assistant Coach prior to the start of the 2017-18 season. Orcutt was a standout player for the women's basketball team at Case Western Reserve, earning selection to the All-UAA Team her sophomore, junior and senior years, including a pair of nods to the Second Team. She currently ranks eighth in school history with 551 career rebounds, ninth with 231 career assists and 19th with 905 career points.
After receiving her undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve with a major in Nutrition and a minor in Sports Medicine in 2015, she went on to receiver her Masters' Degree in Nutrition, also from CWRU, in 2017. She is a registered Dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and a member of both the Sports Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition and the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association.
"We were excited when we got word that Brooke was accepted into this year's class," said CWRU Head Women's Basketball Coach Jennifer Reimer. "As a young coach, it's a wonderful opportunity for her to expand her network and continue to develop in our profession. Brooke is doing an amazing job as the newest member of our staff and this will be a valuable experience that will contribute to her bright future as a teacher and coach."
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.