The Black Coaches and Administrators is emphasizing its primary purpose of developing opportunities for ethnic minorities at all levels of sports through two upcoming events.

The annual BCA national convention and expo will be May 28-31 in Atlanta. The Hyatt Regency Atlanta will serve as the host hotel for the four-day event that will include educational sessions, networking opportunities, a trade show, an awards luncheon and the BCA Coach of the Year awards banquet 

Early registration closes March 31. Visit http://bcasports.cstv.com/events/bca-convention-info-08.html for more information.

BCA Executive Director Floyd Keith said the convention helps foster growing relationships between youth and professionals in sports. “One of the BCA’s continuing goals is to initiate aggressive and persistent action to ultimately achieve a planned positive vision for the future,” he said.

The BCA also is accepting applications for the Achieving Coaching Excellence program. Designed to help ethnic minority basketball coaches advance their careers through skill enhancement and professional development strategies, the program is made possible through funding from the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion department, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.

Open to men and women coaches, the four-day program will be June 1-4 in Indianapolis. Applications will be accepted through April 18. For more details click on the Achieving Coaching Excellence link under the Programs tab at www.bcasports.org. 

In addition to on-court sessions that will include teaching the fundamentals of offense and defense, other topics will include the realities of being a head coach, succeeding in the interview process, developing a leadership style, managing media relations, building strong relationships with campus administration, secrets to managing a head coaching career and game-day preparation.

 “The ACE program is a positive and unique program that is specifically designed to enhance opportunities for ethnic minorities in collegiate basketball,” said Keith.

Last year was the inaugural ACE program for men coaches. The ACE program for women coaches has been in operation since 2003 and is credited with 52 graduates, including 11 who have gone on to become head coaches.