Clarisse Garcia Selected as the Women’s Sports Foundation/WBCA Graduate Assistant of the Year
By: SID - Thursday, March 05, 2009
Seton Hill’s Clarisse Garcia has been named the 2009 Women’s Sports Foundation/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Graduate Assistant of the Year.
Each year, the Women’s Sports Foundation selects a female graduate assistant coach to receive the award and a grant of $1,000. The award recognizes the graduate assistant’s contribution to a collegiate women's basketball program and commitment to becoming a women's basketball coach. This year the $1,000 grant is made possible by the Lissa McLean/Tuti Scott Fund and will be awarded to Seton Hill’s women’s basketball program.
“Those in the coaching sector understand the importance of quality graduate assistants, and we would like to honor Clarisse Garcia, this year’s Women’s Sports Foundation/WBCA Graduate Assistant of the Year,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. “We wish you the best of luck in your future coaching career.”
“We are proud to support the continuing development of future coaches and to celebrate the spirit of women’s basketball,” stated Dr. Marj Snyder, Women’s Sports Foundation Chief Planning and Programming Officer.
A 2007 graduate of Villanova University, Garcia walked on to the women’s basketball team her freshman year. While at Villanova, Garcia served as team captain her senior year and was named to the National Dean’s List and the Villanova Dean’s List in 2004, 2005 and 2007. The Hopewell, Pa., native was the 2007 recipient of the Villanova Coaches’ Award and received Big East Conference Academic Honors for the 2003-2007 seasons.
“I am blessed and honored to receive such a prestigious award and would like to thank the WBCA and the Women’s Sports Foundation for this honor,” said coach Garcia. “I am thankful for the opportunity that I was given to work at Seton Hill and the chance to work with coach Labati and Grenek and the many players that I have coached. I have had a wonderful experience and have learned many things that I can use in the future. I love basketball and I look forward to be in the coaching profession for many years to come.”
Garcia will earn her Master’s of Business Administration at Seton Hill in June of this year. As a graduate assistant coach Garcia is responsible for breaking down film, community service events and recruiting across the nation. She can often be found working 15-hour days and staying after practice to work with student-athletes on skill instruction. Seton Hill head coach Ferne Labati praised Garcia for her strong knowledge of the game and for the role she has filled as a mentor to the student-athletes.
Garcia will be formally presented the award at the 2009 WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens on Tuesday, April 7, at Noon (CT) in the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront Grand Ballroom. The WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens takes place during the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the 2009 NCAA® Women’s Final Four® in St. Louis, Mo.
This marks the 19th year the Women’s Sports Foundation has recognized a Graduate Assistant of the Year.
About the Women’s Sports Foundation
The Women’s Sports Foundation—the leading authority on the participation of women and girls in sports—advocates for equality, educates the public, conducts research and offers grants to promote sports and physical activity for girls and women. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, the Women’s Sports Foundation builds on her legacy as a champion athlete, advocate of social justice and agent of change. We strive for gender equity and fight discrimination in all aspects of athletics. Our work shapes public attitude about women’s sports and athletes, builds capacities for organizations that get girls active, provides equal opportunities for girls and women, and supports physically and emotionally healthy lifestyles. The Women’s Sports Foundation is recognized worldwide for its leadership, vision, strength, expertise and influence. For more information, please call the Women’s Sports Foundation at 800.227.3988 or visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.
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