Otter women's basketball star selected for elite coaching workshop

For Lauryn Pointer, basketball always meant more than just putting the ball through the hoop. Sure, the All–California Collegiate Athletic Association pick spent the last two seasons as Cal State Monterey Bay’s leading scorer, but she has kept her eyes on a career in basketball after her playing days were through.

To that end, she was amongst a prestigious group selected by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, in partnership with WeCOACH, to participate in the 20th “So You Want to Be a Coach” program. The two-day workshop took place during the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four weekend last month as part of the 2023 WBCA Convention in Dallas.

The program’s purposes are: to increase the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure coaching positions in women's basketball, increase the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in coaching, introduce female basketball players to coaches and administrators, and raise awareness of the existing talent pool of female basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching women's basketball. Participants are taught about the administrative side of coaching, recruiting, how to get hired, skill development, the importance of knowing the rules and how to balance work and life.

“I was expecting to be presented with information, but I got a lot more than that. I didn’t expect the event to be so big. It definitely exceeded my expectations,” said Pointer. “The opportunity was once in a lifetime, and I would encourage anyone to apply. Experience and connections go a long way.”

More than dry knowledge, Pointer kept coming back to the people and the connections that she made with an elite group of coaching professionals and administrators. It was from those personal interactions that she derived her biggest takeaways.

“The biggest thing that I learned came from Texas A&M coach Joni Taylor. She said to run towards your fear. Even if you don’t think you’re ready to be a coach, run towards your fear. The opportunity was once in a lifetime, and I would encourage anyone to apply. Experience and connections go a long way.”

“I am thrilled Lo was provided an opportunity to participate in the ‘So’ program,” said first-year CSUMB Head Coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery. “It is a great honor for her, and we are grateful for the department's support. This WBCA program is doing a brilliant job of providing resources to future coaches as they seek to learn and enter the profession.”

Although she’s eyeing a career in coaching after completing her degree in human communications in the fall, Pointer will look first to opportunities to play professionally overseas. As part of her trip, she participated in WCL Eurobasket Summer League Camp. She averaged 13.5 points per game at the camp and earned an overall rank of 26^th out of 111 participants from all three NCAA divisions and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

“It definitely increased my desire to be a coach,” said Pointer. “I got a feeling that I need to be out there helping young women. It also increased my desire to use my coaching skills while I play. Playing at the showcase, I noticed that my game is very different because of the hardships I faced this season. It forced me to see the game from a coach’s perspective. I think my talent will always show, but what can I do beyond putting the ball in the basket.”