NJCAA TopConnect
TOPCONNECT NJCAA VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM
CONNECT. PREPARE. LEAD.
OCTOBER 8-9, 2020
ABOUT
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. Following the recent success of TopConnect Basketball 2020, Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO, and Dr. Richard Sander began to develop a program for the head men’s and women’s basketball coaches of the NJCAA.
TopConnect creates a truly, unique opportunity for the selected class of attendees to interact with current Head Coaches, up and coming Associate Athletic Directors as well as established Athletic Directors in an interactive, career elevating experience.
| 2020 TOPCONNECT NJCAA ATTENDEES | ||
|---|---|---|
| NAME | POSITION | SCHOOL |
| MJ Baker | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Eastern Florida State |
| Billy Begley | Head Men's Basketball Coach | East Mississippi |
| Bryan Bender | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Southwest Mississippi |
| Reco Dawson | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Central Georgia Tech |
| Cole Dewey | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Garden City (KS) |
| Joseph Eatmon | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Shelton State (AL) |
| Kyle Fisher | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Butler (KS) |
| Yusef Fitzgerald | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Hinds (MS) |
| Todd Franklin | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Vincennes (IN) |
| Alex Furr | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Panola (TX) |
| Shaun Gutting | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Casper (WY) |
| Hana Haden | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Moberly Area (MO) |
| Taylor Harris | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Miles (MT) |
| Rylee Hernandez | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Williston State (ND) |
| Ben Hicks | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Chattahoochee Valley (AL) |
| Brian Hoberecht | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Kilgore (TX) |
| Brad Hoyt | Head Men's Basketball Coach | John Wood (IL) |
| Matthew Huddleston | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Tallahassee (FL) |
| Drew Kelly | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Harcum (PA) |
| Arthur Latham | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Motlow State (TN) |
| Martin McCann | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Daytona State (FL) |
| Ashley McGee | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Jefferson (MO) |
| Scott Monarch | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Grayson (TX) |
| Bill Morosco | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Independence (KS) |
| Kevin O'Connor | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Murray State (OK) |
| Kayla Petree | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Gulf Coast State (FL) |
| Hank Plona | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Indian Hills (IA) |
| Karrie Redeker | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Illinois Central |
| Tim Sandquist | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Kirkwood (IA) |
| Scott Schumacher | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Blinn (TX) |
| Zach Settembre | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Tallahassee (FL) |
| Walter Shaw | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Brunswick (NC) |
| Jeremy Shulman | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Eastern Florida State |
| Kyle Smithpeters | Head Men's Basketball Coach | John A. Logan (IL) |
| Steve Soza | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Western Wyoming |
| Jeremy Thompson | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Monroe-Bronx (NY) |
| Madonna Thompson | Head Women's Basketball Coach | Shelton State (AL) |
| Sharon Thompson | Head Women's Basketball Coach | East Mississippi |
| Chad Van Riesen | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Iowa Western (IA) |
| Nicholas Wade | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Angelina (TX) |
| Jake Williams | Head Men's Basketball Coach | Dodge City (KS) |
SCHEDULE
| THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 | |
|---|---|
| TIME | SESSION |
| 10:00 AM | Division I Head Coaches Who Have Been Junior College Coaches |
| Panelists: Keitha Adams (Wichita State), Steve Forbes (Wake Forest), Chris Jans (New Mexico State) | |
| Moderator: Dr. Richard Sander (TopConnect) | |
| 11:00 AM | Division I AD's on Expectations of a Coaching Staff |
| Panelists: Omar Banks (Campbell), Amanda Braun (Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Eddie Nunez (New Mexico) | |
| Moderator: Mike Capaccio (The Citadel) | |
| 12:00 PM | Making the Jump (Junior College to DI Head Coach) |
| Panelists: Jay Ladner (Southern Miss), Ryan Ridder (Bethune-Cookman), Chanda Rigby (Troy) | |
| Moderator: Andy Farrell (Dayton) | |
| 1:00 PM | Speed Dating - Session No. 1 with Men's Basketball Coaches |
| FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 | |
|---|---|
| TIME | SESSION |
| 10:00 AM | Division I Head Coaches Career Development |
| Panelists: Buzz Williams (Texas A&M), Brian "Penny" Collins (Tennessee State), Dr. Brittney Ezell (East Tennessee State) | |
| Moderator: Dr. Richard Sander (TopConnect) | |
| 11:00 AM | Current Assistant Coaches With Junior College Backgrounds |
| Panelists: Greg Heiar (East Tennessee State), Brittany Young (Mississippi State) | |
| Moderator: Dr. Lyle Wolf (Texas A&M) | |
| 12:00 PM | Breaking the Stigma of JUCO; What We've Seen That Helps |
| Panelists: Dr. Christopher Parker (NJCAA), Brandon Goble (JUCO Advocate) | |
| Moderator: Kay Lennon-McGrew, Esq. (East Tennessee State) | |
| 1:00 PM | Speed Dating - Session No. 2 with Women's Basketball Coaches |
FORMER TOPCONNECT ATTENDEES |
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Mark Adams - Texas Tech Howard (TX)
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Steve Forbes - Wake Forest Southwestern (IA), Barton (KS) |
Buzz Williams - Texas A&M Navarro (TX) |
TOPCONNECT NJCAA VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM PRESENTED BY
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Sheryll A. Hanks Associate Director, Center for Global Sport Leadership |
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