2018 to 2019 – Women Leaders in College Sports

In 2019, Women Leaders in College Sports celebrated its 40th Anniversary all year long by honoring its past presidents and all members and the role they played throughout 40 years as a Force for Change. This celebration was highlighted with weekly unveilings on the 40th Anniversary website where past presidents, board members, and major milestones were showcased on a historical, interactive timeline.

“Over the past 40 years, Women Leaders in College Sports has provided countless opportunities, inspiration and support to women at all levels. As we took time to honor and recognize the women that blazed trails and laid the foundation that we build upon today, we are committed to being bold, ethical and brave leaders at all levels of college athletics,” said President Lynn Holzman.

In addition to the website, Women Leaders launched the Trailblazer Webinar Series, a dynamic virtual platform that gave members the opportunity to engage, connect, and learn from those who paved the way for women in college athletics. Many trailblazers and past presidents were also featured on the Women Leaders Podcast leading up to the National Convention.

The 40th Anniversary Year culminated at the 2019 National Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, where nearly 1,000 members gathered together to celebrate the evolution CCWAA to NACWAA, and now Women Leaders in College Sports.

21 past presidents and executive directors were in attendance and were recognized with a commemorative 40th Anniversary Medal of Leadership at the Nike Lifetime Achievement Luncheon. The inspirational event culminated with the past presidents passing the inspired woman torch through each year and then to the attendees who represent our Force for the Future.

Other major accomplishments from Women Leaders in College Sports during this time:

• Launched a new, highly integrated career platform called Career Connect
• Announced the organization’s first endowment, the Scott, Dallas, and Mia Pioli Family Endowed HBCU Scholarship, which includes a one-year Women Leaders membership and a National Convention registration, including travel and lodging
• Hosted the first Women Coaches NEXT UP event, a program designed to promote the advancement and retention of female basketball coaches
• Hit a record-high 3,703 members
• Relaunched the Member Circles platform, which included 17 Circles with over 2,053 members engaged
• Launched a member online Leadership Video Library on the website
• Created the President’s Fund – a commitment to an elevated level of giving built upon the success of the 5n5 Campaign started during the 35th Anniversary. 14 women pledged a gift of $7,500 over five years to create the Fund

Lynn Holzman returned to the NCAA in February 2018 as the vice president of women’s basketball. She is responsible for the strategic direction, oversight, operations and management of women’s basketball in Divisions I, II and III. She serves as the primary liaison to the women’s basketball committees and provides strategic oversight of the site-selection process for each championship.

In 2014, Lynn was appointed commissioner of the West Coast Conference after serving in various leadership roles within the conference office, including executive senior associate commissioner/chief operating officer and senior associate commissioner of governance and administration. Before her conference office tenure, she worked at the NCAA national office for 16 years, last serving as a director of academic and membership affairs.

Lynn earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Kansas State University where she was captain of the women’s basketball team and a three-time Academic All-Big Eight Team member. She also earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University. Lynn was awarded the Big Eight Conference’s Postgraduate Scholarship and is recognized as a Distinguished Alumni by the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She has served on the Boards of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, Kay Yow Cancer Fund, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the San Jose Sports Authority.

Learn more about Lynn in her Women Leaders Podcast episode.