TopConnect has announced the inaugural cohort of TopConnect Leadership Institute beginning May 18th. TopConnect (formerly Villa 7), originated in 2003 by then VCU Athletic Director Dr. Richard Sander, identifies the top basketball assistant coaches and senior level athletics administrators in the country and provides them the necessary skills and relationships to assist them on their career path.
TopConnect Leadership Institute is the most exclusive program offered by TopConnect and is for experienced and successful assistant basketball coaches and senior level athletic administrators who have been identified and recommended by Athletic Directors across the nation. Twenty-six highly qualified individuals (13 coaches and 13 administrators) will comprise the inaugural cohort. The mantra, CONNECT. PREPARE. LEAD. is more than a slogan, it is the purpose of the Leadership Institute and TopConnect.
The program has been designed to provide the selected attendees the extra edge or advantage to both acquire their leadership opportunity and be successful in their leadership role. Being held over a 4-month span, TopConnect Leadership Institute is built off the annual symposiums and will allow for a more in-depth curriculum with leadership discussions, activities, and networking opportunities. Topics and sessions will include: Mock Interviews, Branding, Crisis Management, Real Situational Case Studies, Myers Briggs evaluation and education, and an in-depth look at the search process.
TopConnect Leadership Institute participants will be awarded a leadership certificate of achievement from East Tennessee State University upon the completion of the program
The initial cohort participating in TopConnect Leadership Institute are:
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coaches
- Gus Argenal, University of Arkansas
- Adrian Autry, Syracuse University
- Grant Billmeier, Seton Hall University
- Adam Cohen, Stanford University
- Ricardo Greer, University of Dayton
- Joel Justus, Arizona State University
- Kevin Kuwik, Davidson College
- Brooks Savage, Wake Forest University
- K.T. Turner, Oklahoma University
Assistant Women’s Basketball Coaches:
- Britney Anderson, Stanford University
- Ryan Gensler, University of Dayton
- Ryenn Micaletti, Longwood University
- Rhet Wierzba, Indiana University
Administrators:
- Lauren Adee, Southern Methodist University
- Vic Cegles, University at Albany
- Dr. Lauren Cevis, Jacksonville University
- Kevin Dwan, William and Mary
- Craig Fink, University of Nevada
- Brian Gerrity, Mercer University
- Dr. Jessica Hammond-Graf, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- Dr. Matt McGahey, East Tennessee State University
- Jeff Mitchell J.D., University of Southern Mississippi
- Justin Schemmel, University of Northern Iowa
- Christian Spears J.D., University of Pittsburgh
- Bruce Stewart J.D., Old Dominion University
- Vince Volpe, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
TopConnect continues to pave the way in development of the next generation of leaders in college athletics. Since its inception in 2018, fourteen attendees have been hired as Athletic Director, Head Men’s Basketball Coach or Head Women’s Basketball Coach.
Director of Athletics:
Randale Richmond, Kent State University
Women’s Basketball:
Ganiyat Adeduntan, Colgate University and Mark Campbell, California State University – Sacramento
Men’s Basketball:
Dwayne Killings, University at Albany; Kyle Neptune, Fordham University; Tony Stubblefield, DePaul University; Greg Gary, Mercer University; Kim English, George Mason University; Brett Nelson, College of the Holy Cross; Rashon Burno, Northern Illinois University; Bryan Mullins, Southern Illinois University; Steve Lutz, Texas A&M, Corpus Christi; Drew Valentine, Loyola University, Chicago; and Jay Young, Fairfield University.
TopConnect is on all social media platforms @TopConnectLead. For further information on TopConnect, you can email Dr. Richard Sander at [email protected].
