NOTE: Kaley May wrote the note below regarding the IBCA Mentoring Program for the 2026-27 below. However, she stepped down as IBCA president on Oct. 1 to accept a position with the NCAA as Assistant Director of Championships for Women’s Basketball. Thus, president-elect Jason Simpson of Greensburg is moving into the role of president and Coach Simpson will oversee the IBCA Mentoring Program for this season.
IBCA president Jason Simpson oversee the IBCA Mentor Program in 2026-27 with several exciting changes designed to make the experience even more valuable for both mentors and mentees.
We are partnering with former Warsaw coach Lenny Krebs and the AEA Institute this season to incorporate the Activate 7 Program, an initiative designed to help new coaches build a strong foundation for their programs while developing the mental side of coaching.
Mentor coaches will select their mentees, and the program will feature monthly topics of discussion as well as three optional round-table video chats. The Mentor Program will run throughout the season, providing coaches with consistent resources, meaningful connections, valuable information and greater awareness of the many offerings and benefits available through IBCA membership.
Here is the IBCA Mentor Program plan for 2026-27:
- Sept. 21: Email – First contact welcoming everyone to the program; encouraging IBCA membership and discussing benefits available. Set up AEA Institute Activate 7 Program for New Head Coaches.
- Sept. 28: Email – Debrief Activate 7 Program: Findings, Pillars of Program, Goals for Season/Team.
- Oct. 5: Email – Mentor introduction to mentee; preparation for upcoming tryouts; feeder program; fundraising; working with parents and social media; practice planning; laying foundation for program culture.
- Oct. 25: Video – Round-table discussion on season preparation.
- Nov. 9: Email – Drills; motion offenses; defensive concepts; quick hitters; scouting reports.
- Nov. 22: Video – Round-table discussion on season challenges; general questions; play concepts.
- Dec. 14: Email – Program culture; staying sharp and focused at midseason; handling the ups and downs.
- Jan. 11: Email – Tournament preparation; mentality; peaking at the right time.
- Jan. 24: Video – Round-table discussion on tournament preparation.
- Feb. 8: Email – End-of-season nominations; voting; goals for postseason play.
- March 29: Email – End-of-season wrap-up; reflection; IBCA Clinic.
One other resource available to coaches is posted in the resources section of the IBCA web site is a document titled, “You got the job, so what happens next? – Program Organization.” This information was part of a presentation that IBCA executive director emeritus Steve Witty and IBCA assistant director Renee Turpa gave for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association during a past NCAA women’s Final Four in Indianapolis. The guidelines in this document will be helpful for any coach, experienced or inexperienced, to be organized and prepared for the challenges of being a head basketball coach.
The IBCA Mentor Program was started in 2019-20. The effort was upgraded in 2020-21, again in 2023-24 and takes another step forward in 2026-27.
The IBCA thanks all the mentor coaches for being a part of this program to help fellow coaches. Anyone with questions about the IBCA Mentoring Program should contact Coach Simpson at 812-662-6612 or by email at jsimpson@greensburg.k12.in.us.
