Ashley Barlow Selected by WBCA to Participate in 2026 Next Generation Institute

ATLANTA — University of Cincinnati women’s basketball associate coach Ashley Barlow has been selected by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association to participate in the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute — a high-level education program for experienced assistant coaches who aspire to become collegiate head coaches.

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."

Here are the participants for the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute:

 

Name	Institution
Ashley Barlow	University of Cincinnati
Donald Bohannon	University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Erika Brown	Fairfield University
Janet Butler	University of Denver
Mandi Carver	Oklahoma State University
Josh Cooperwood	Loyola University Maryland
Yannick Denson	Abilene Christian University
Krystle Evans	University of West Georgia
Brianna Finch	George Washington University
Michael Floyd	Sacramento State University
Eric Gracia	East Tennessee State University
Jason Harris	East Carolina University
Patrick Harrison	Wichita State University
Bri Hutchen	University of Delaware
Robert Isme	American University
Durmon Dontae Jennings	University of North Texas
Crayton "CJ" Jones	University of Virginia
Sarah Jones	University of Akron
Latara King	University of Washington
John Leonzo	Wright State University
Shareese McBrayer	Eastern Michigan University
Landis McCoy	Longwood University
Brock McGinnis	University of Kansas
Khalilah Mitchell	University of Hawaii
Colleen Moriarty	New Jersey Institute of Technology
Morgan Paige	University of Kansas
Brittany Pinkney	University of Richmond
Khadija Rushdan	Marquette University
Bianca Smith	Michigan State University
Abby Stamp	University of Iowa
Matthew Smith	Washington State University
Anthony Turner	Southern Methodist University
Brett Vana	Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Bridget Williams	Benedict College

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.

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 coaches to those 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 www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.