ATLANTA, Ga. – Fairfield University Women's Basketball senior guard Kendall McGruder was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) "So You Want To Be A Coach" program as announced earlier this week. Each student-athlete will participate in the two-day workshop on April 3 and 4 during the WBCA Convention in Tampa.
 
"It was really exciting for me," McGruder said. "I like the IQ side of being a coach and thinking in different ways. Even helping my teammates, I see the game differently than some others so and I think that if I can help others boost their IQ as well then it makes them a better person."
 
"We are so excited for Kendall to have been selected to this year's "So You Want To Be A Coach" class," Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis said. "This is a prestigious honor for her, one that she has earned, and is going to set her up for great success as a coach after graduation."
 
The "So" program increases the understanding and application of skills necessary to secure coaching positions in women's basketball, increases the understanding and awareness of competencies necessary for success in coaching, introduces female basketball players to coaches and administrators, and raises awareness of the existing talent pool of female basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching the game of women's basketball.
 
"The WBCA community of coaches each year invests in young, aspiring coaches through the 'So You Want To Be A Coach' program," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "We have high expectations for these graduating student-athletes and the future contributions they will make to the game of women's basketball."
 
McGruder has played in exactly 101 games during her four-year career with North Texas and now at Fairfield. She has netted over 650 points while connecting on over 130 3-pointers in those contests. Her high basketball IQ has been shown as a leader on and off the floor, dishing out nearly 200 assists in her career. She will also be graduating in May with a Psychology degree.
 
"Her basketball IQ is going to be a great asset for whatever staff that brings her on, and the "So" program is going to really help her learn more about the profession and continue to prepare her for every aspect of coaching," Coach Carly said. "This is an amazing opportunity that I know Ken is excited for and we are really appreciative of the WBCA for selecting her."
 
"The mental health side is very important to me," McGruder said. "A lot of athletes lose the love of the game and I was one of those athletes. I want them to find a coach like I did here at Fairfield to help them get through those tough times and help them find the love of the game again. That's really why I want to be a coach."
 
McGruder and the first-place Stags are back in action on Thursday morning when they host over 3,000 local school children in the annual Kids Day Out contest against Manhattan at 11am at Leo D. Mahoney Arena.