Two Notre Dame College coaches have been named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Thirty Under 30 honorees for the 2019-20 season.
Notre Dame College’s Head Coach Lauren Macer and Assistant Coach Imani Gordon have both been selected for list. The two have worked together now for three seasons at the College. Macer became leader of the program prior to the 2017-18 season, and then Gordon joined the staff.
“It is an amazing honor to be nominated and voted for the Thirty Under 30,” said Macer, who is one of three head coaches to make the ranking. “Imani Gordon was also selected, and I am happy that her hard work is recognized. Our team helped make it possible for both of us. I am thankful for the people we have in our program and the support we have had throughout the season both on and off the court.”
Under Macer and Gordon’s direction, the Falcons women’s basketball team has achieved an overall record of 64-28 and are 47-19 in Mountain East Conference (MEC) play. This past season, the squad set program records with 26 total wins and 18 MEC victories, along with earning a bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time. The contest has been cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I am honored to be recognized alongside some of the top young coaches in the country,” Gordon said. “It is truly a blessing when your hard work is noticed, and by your fellow peers at that. I am thankful for everyone who took the time to nominate me for this award. Thank you to the WBCA and congratulations to all the other honorees. This is just the beginning for me.”
The WBCA Thirty Under 30, presented by Marriott Bonvoy and Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment, honors 30 successful college coaches who are 30 years old or younger. According to the WBCA, each honoree exemplifies involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner and attitude and professional association involvement.
“I am so proud of what both Lauren and Imani have accomplished here for Notre Dame College women’s basketball in such a short time,” said Scott Swain, direct of athletics at the College. “Leading this program to new heights and its first NCAA Tournament berth is remarkable. What I am even more proud of is that Lauren and Imani are not only great coaches but they are tremendous people. To be the only institution with both a head coach and an assistant coach on this list is obviously extra special for all of Falcon athletics.”
Founded in 1981, the WBCA is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. The association offers educational resources that coaches can utilize to become better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players. It also 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.
March 2020
About Notre Dame College
For almost a century, Notre Dame College has educated a diverse population in the liberal arts for personal, professional and global responsibility. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College has grown strategically to keep pace with the rapidly changing needs of students and the dramatic changes in higher education. But it has never lost sight of its emphasis on teaching students not only how to make a good living but also how to live a good life.
Today, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. Notre Dame College offers NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletic programs for men and women and is located in a picturesque residential neighborhood just 25 minutes from the heart of Cleveland. Hallmarks of the Notre Dame experience include stimulating academics, personalized attention of dedicated faculty and staff, and small class sizes.
Notre Dame College is located at 4545 College Road in South Euclid. For further information contact Brian Johnston, chief communications officer, at 216.373.5252 or bjohnston@ndc.edu.