Whitney Edwards holds two master’s degrees in leadership, which proved to be vital in her first year as a college basketball coach. Despite the pandemic’s difficult circumstances, the 36-year-old coach of College of Saint Rose faced the Northeast-10 Conference’s cancellation of all conference competitions in December. To salvage the situation, Saint Rose organized a brief season in mid-February through early March and played a seven-game schedule. The team faced back-to-back games against the same opponent, resulting in a winless season. Nevertheless, for Edwards, the season represented a foundational year for future success.
Edwards attributes her successful career to her background as a Division I athlete, her numerous assistant coaching positions, and her academic paths. When asked about how her studies prepared her for her role as a head coach, Edwards explained how her undergraduate experience highlighted her leadership abilities, which became further refined through her master’s program in leadership. Her latest master’s degree in leadership in sports and social change fine-tuned her coaching philosophy and led her to foster more involvement in discussions about discrimination, bias, and other relevant issues.
The article later goes on to detail Edwards’ mentors, including several influential women in her family and her first boss, Cheryl Cole. Edwards speaks specifically about how Cole’s trust in her capabilities bolstered her confidence, which led to a career in coaching. The article concludes with Edwards discussing her upbringing, specifically citing her mom’s support and commitment.
Joyce Bassett writes a weekly sports column published on Mondays in the Times Union, sponsored by Women@Work. Join today at: womenatworkny.com. [email protected] * @joyceb10bassett * https://blog.timesunion.com/allin
