ATLANTA, Ga. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced on Thursday that UNC Pembroke's associate head women's basketball coach, Donald Bohannon, has been selected as a participant in the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute— a high-level education program for experienced assistant coaches who aspire to become collegiate head coaches.
Bohannon was one of three Division II coaches selected for the prestigious program. The Wilmington native is in his ninth season on staff with the Black & Gold.
Now in its fourth year, the curriculum of the WBCA Next Generation Institute focuses on the CEO attributes needed to lead a program and be a problem-solver in today's ever-changing landscape of higher education and the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics.
"The WBCA is pleased to announce the participants for the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "This fourth class of cohorts will be challenged to set aside X's and O's for two days during the upcoming WBCA Convention in Phoenix and concentrate on understanding and developing the skills in business, communications, marketing and management of both people and resources that is required to be a successful head coach in this new landscape of college athletics."
To be eligible for selection to participate in the program, a person must be a current WBCA member, must have at least five years' experience as a coach, and must be nominated by a current WBCA member. The Institute is held in conjunction with the WBCA Convention, which this year takes place April 2-5 in Phoenix.
Below are the participants for the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute:
- Ashley Barlow, University of Cincinnati
- Donald Bohannon, UNC Pembroke
- Erika Brown, Fairfield University
- Janet Butley, University of Denver
- Mandi Carver, Oklahoma State
- Josh Cooperwood, Loyola University Maryland
- Yannick Denson, Abilene Christian
- Krystle Evans, West Georgia
- Brianna Finch, George Washington
- Michael Floyd, Sacramento State
- Eric Gracia, Eastern Tennessee State
- Jason Harris, East Carolina
- Patrick Harrison, Wichita State
- Bri Hutchen, Delaware
- Robert Isme, American
- Durmon Dontae Jennings, North Texas
- Crayton "CJ" Jones, Virginia
- Sarah Jones, Akron
- Latara King, Washington
- John Leonzo, Wright State
- Shareese McBrayer, Eastern Michigan
- Landis McCoy, Longwood
- Brock McGinnis, Kansas
- Khalilah Mitchell, Hawaii
- Colleen Moriaty, New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Morgan Paige, Kansas
- Brittany Pinkney, Richmond
- Khadijah Rushdan, Marquette
- Bianca Smith, Michigan State
- Abby Stamp, Iowa
- Matthew Smith, Washington State
- Anthony Turner, Southern Methodist
- Brett Vana, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
- Bridget Williams, Benedict
