New York, NY (September 19, 2024) — The Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF®) announces the 2024 grant recipients for its Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching. Named for legendary Stanford University women’s basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, the Fund has provided a total of $160,000 to 8 colleges and universities this year, for a coaching fellowship at each institution. Since the Fund’s inception in 2019, WSF has provided close to $1.2 million to 44 colleges and universities throughout the country, supporting 49 WSF VanDerveer Fellows across 14 different sports. This year’s class of WSF VanDerveer Fellows span across eight sports, including two new sports: beach volleyball and lacrosse.
Since Title IX’s passage, the representation of women in collegiate coaching roles has drastically declined. During the 1970-71 academic year, women served as head coaches for 90% of women’s college teams. Fast forward to the 2022-2023 academic year, women held only 41% of head coaching positions in women’s NCAA sports. The disparity is even more pronounced among BIPOC women, who made up only 7% of head coaches in women’s NCAA sports. In the same year, only 29% of all NCAA assistant coaches were women, with only 7% of all assistant coaches for men’s and women’s teams being BIPOC women.
Furthermore, WSF’s latest research report, “Play to Lead: The Generational Impact of Sports on Women’s Leadership,” revealed that there are still barriers to sport participation, including a lack of women role models and access to quality coaches. The data shows the lack of representation in coaching positions throughout the country is evident, and WSF is taking steps to address it by expanding the pipeline for aspiring women coaches at the collegiate level through the Tara VanDerveer Fund. Throughout the grant year, VanDerveer Fellows receive mentorship opportunities with experienced coaches and leaders in the collegiate sport space, including a conversation with Tara VanDerveer herself. Fellows are also invited to workshops focused on key topics to help women coaches succeed in today’s sports environment.
“Being a WSF VanDerveer Fellow has allowed me to gain a wealth of knowledge and skills that has helped me feel more confident as a coach and motivated me to continuously improve in order to reach my full potential,” said Erin Thompson, WSF VanDerveer Fellow 2023-2025 and Clark University Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach. “The lessons that I have learned and the connections that I have made, will continue to guide and inspire me as I pursue my career in coaching.”
The Fund has seen success and has made an impact during its short lifespan. Out of the first five classes, 33 VanDerveer Fellows continue to lead in coaching roles, five have stepped into head coaching positions and five have used their fellowship experience to secure jobs in a sports-related field.
“For 50 years and counting, the Women’s Sports Foundation has known that creating leadership opportunities for women – in coaching and beyond – is vital in order to strengthen the entire sports ecosystem,” said WSF CEO Danette Leighton. “When girls and young women have inspiring women role models to look up to, they are motivated to stay engaged and pursue their full potential. That is why we remain dedicated to closing the gender gap in coaching and advancing the legacy of pioneers like Tara VanDerveer through this important Fund.”
2024 Grant Recipients:
| Adelphi University | Cross Country/Track & Field |
| Central College | Basketball |
| Clark University | Soccer |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Field Hockey |
| Howard University | Lacrosse |
| Texas Woman’s University | Wrestling |
| The College of the Holy Cross | Strength & Conditioning |
| University of North Florida | Beach Volleyball |
For more information about the Tara VanDerveer Fund, please click here.
About the Women’s Sports Foundation
The Women’s Sports Foundation exists to enable girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life. We are an ally, an advocate, and a catalyst to tomorrow’s leaders. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, we are one of the first organizations to recognize the powerful connection between sport access, equity, and society. WSF has been changing the game for 50 years through its research, advocacy, and community programming, investing over $100 million to help girls and women play, compete, and lead – in sports and beyond – without barriers. A leader and champion of the entire women’s sports ecosystem, WSF amplifies the vital societal and cultural impact that is made when girls and women play sports. All girls. All women. All sports® To learn more about the Women’s Sports Foundation, please visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
Media Contact:
Kandice Miller
Women’s Sports Foundation
479.409.7779
KMiller@WomensSportsFoundation.org