CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting athletic staff and investing in professional development opportunities across its membership, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) will provide a fully funded, conference-wide membership with WeCOACH for all member institutions.
Through this initiative, female athletic staff at every A-R-C member institution will have access to WeCOACH, a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to recruiting, advancing and retaining women coaches across all sports and levels through year-round professional growth and leadership development programs.
“We are thrilled to welcome the American Rivers Conference to our WeCOACH community. By joining, the conference is making a clear statement that women coaches matter and that recruiting, advancing, and retaining them is a shared responsibility. Together, we will inspire the women coaches across every campus in the A-R-C to become the best leaders, role models, and mentors they can be,” said Vanessa Fuchs, CEO of WeCOACH.
The conference-wide membership reflects the A-R-C's continued commitment to creating opportunities for professional development, strengthening leadership and supporting the individuals who contribute to the success of its athletic programs. By fully funding the membership, the A-R-C is eliminating the financial barrier to participation and expanding access to resources, connections and development opportunities for athletic staff throughout the conference.
WeCOACH offers a variety of resources and programming designed to support coaches and athletic professionals at every stage of their careers. Membership benefits include professional development and leadership programs, peer-to-peer networking, educational resources, career opportunities, research and recognition initiatives.
Among its programming are the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, NCAA Academy 2.0, WeMENTOR Program, Divisions II and III Development Program, WeAMPLIFY initiative and WeELEVATE program. Members also gain access to virtual and in-person learning opportunities, video recording libraries, a job center and professional networking through the WeCONNECT platform.
The partnership provides A-R-C athletic staff with additional opportunities to build connections, develop leadership skills, share experiences and access resources that support career advancement and long-term success in collegiate athletics.
"This membership reflects our commitment to collaboration: building lasting partnerships that elevate every member," said Marie Stroman, A-R-C Commissioner. "By joining WeCOACH together, our eight member institutions give women coaches across the eleven women's sports the A-R-C sponsors access to shared professional development, mentorship, and a national network that no single school could provide on its own. It is achievement rallied by community, investing in the coaches who lead our student-athletes every day."
Through this investment, the A-R-C continues to advance its strategic commitment to supporting its membership, fostering leadership and enhancing the overall experience of those who serve its student-athletes and institutions.
About WeCOACH
Founded in 2011, WeCOACH is a one-of-a-kind 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels through year-round professional growth & leadership development programs. Prior to Title IX, over 90% of women’s collegiate sports teams were coached by women. Today, over 50 years later, the data indicates that number has decreased to 46% in Division I, 41% across all three NCAA Divisions, with only 6.2% women head coaches of color (Division I). Only 5% women coach men's teams. At the youth level, the data is hard to estimate, approximately less than 20% of teams are coached by women. WeCOACH launched MOVE the NUMBERS in 2022 to help change the landscape for women coaches and the student-athletes they lead. If she can see her, she can be her.
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About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to eight full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. The A-R-C also includes two affiliate members for men’s and women’s swimming & diving: Illinois Tech and University of Minnesota Morris.
