Eastern Florida Women’s Basketball Coach MJ Baker Selected to Speak at Inaugural NJCAA Symposium
By Space Coast Daily // October 3, 2020
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Eastern Florida State College women’s basketball coach MJ Baker has been selected to participate in the inaugural TopConnect NJCAA symposium set for next Thursday and Friday.
The inaugural class has 11 head women’s basketball coaches participating in the event, which will have three panels of current Division 1 head coaches talking about their experiences on maintaining the success, making the jump to D1 from junior college and overall career development.
Also, President and CEO of The NJCAA, Dr. Chris Parker and Brandon Goble, CEO of JUCOAdvocate, will hold a conversation on breaking the stigma of junior college.
The presenters for the inaugural TopConnect NJCAA include former junior college coaches Buzz Williams (formally Navarro College, now Texas A&M), Steve Forbes (formally Northwest Florida State College, now Wake Forest), Brian “Penny” Collins (formally Columbia State CC, now Tennessee State), Jay Ladner (formally Jones County JC, now Southern Miss), Dr. Brittney Ezell (formally Okaloosa-Walton Junior College, now East Tennessee State), Chris Jans (formally Chipola College, now New Mexico State), Keitha Adams (formally Independence CC, now Wichita State), Ryan Ridder (formally Daytona State College, now Bethune-Cookman) and Chanda Rigby (formally Pensacola State College, now Troy). In addition to the former junior college coaches speaking, a panel of Division 1 AD’s will discuss their expectations of a coaching staff, and a panel of current Division 1 assistant coaches will share their thoughts on their transition from Junior College to their current roles.
“I am truly humbled about being chosen by Top Connect with the opportunity of learning and connecting with some of the Top Coaches in the country,” Baker said.
TopConnect (formerly Villa 7) originated in 2003 by then VCU Athletic Director Dr. Richard Sander, identifies the top basketball assistant coaches in the country, and connects them with mid-major Athletic Directors providing tremendous networking opportunities for both parties. The three-word mantra of “Connect. Prepare. Lead.” identifies the purpose of TopConnect.
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