OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced today the winners of the 2024 Assistant Coach of the Year awards presented by Aflac.
Johnson County Community College assistant coach Katie Jones was named as the WBCA Two-Year College Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. The other recipients were Kate Paye, Stanford University (NCAA D-I); Brittany Batts, Gannon University (NCAA D-II); Hannah Varel, Transylvania University (NCAA D-III) and Sierra Vaglica, Vanguard University (NAIA).
Jones is in her fourth season serving on head coach Ben Conrad's staff at JCCC. She served three seasons from 2019-22 on Conrad's staff before serving as the director of basketball operations at Lamar University in 2022-23.
This season, Jones helped coach the Lady Cavaliers to a perfect 29-0 regular season, a KJCCC D-II title and a final No. 1 ranking in the NJCAA Poll. JCCC went on to capture the Region 6/Plains District Championship and earn the No. 1 seed in the NJCAA Division II Tournament.
Overall, Jones has helped the program to a mark of 116-9 (.928) record with three conference titles, three Region 6/Plains District titles, three NJCAA D-II Tournament berths with a runner-up finish in 2021 and fifth place finish in 2022. She has also coached four NJCAA All-Americans, including the D-II National Player of the Year, four WBCA All-Americans, six World Exposure Report All-Americans, including WER the WER Sophomore of the Year, three NJCAA National All-Tournament selections, 12 All-Region 6 selections, 14 All-KJCCC D-II performers, including back-to-back MVP selections in 2021 and 2022.
WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year is presented to one associate head coach or assistant coach in each membership division who demonstrates commitment to their program, their student-athletes, and their head coach; their impact coaching on court; their mentorship and impact on other coaches; and their professional manner and attitude. Aflac will present the award at the WBCA Convention for the second year.
"The role of an assistant coach is vital in reinforcing a positive student-athlete environment with encouragement, excellence, structure, security, support and integrity. The WBCA is proud to honor these individuals as our assistant coaches of the year in their respective divisions of membership," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "Each coach was selected by vote of their peers, and the WBCA celebrates and applauds their lasting commitment to use our game as a platform to positively impact their student-athletes, institutions and communities. We also thank Aflac for renewing its presenting sponsorship of the Assistant Coach of the Year awards and its continuing support of the WBCA and the sport of women's basketball."
In honor of these coaches and the work the WBCA does to promote equity and community engagement, Aflac will give $5,000 to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in each coach's name, donating $25,000. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a nonprofit organization named after Coach Yow, former NC State women's college basketball coach, and is dedicated to supporting innovative ways of fighting all cancers affecting women and providing support through giving strength, courage and hope.
Visit www.wbca.org to see a list of past recipients of the award.
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About the WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.