FOREST, Va. --- The ODAC's second edition of "Title IX Talk" features Randolph-Macon College field hockey head coach Jess Weiss and Washington and Lee University women's basketball assistant coach Erin Hughes. The two are joined in conversation with ODAC Director of Championships Haley Overstreet.

The trio discuss their personal experiences with Title IX and how early trailblazers have impacted their lives as former athletes and paved the way for them to become collegiate coaches. Coach Weiss and Coach Hughes also reflected on their most recent professional development opportunity, the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy Class #51, which was hosted in partnership with WeCOACH.

Coach Weiss is in her second season guiding the Yellow Jackets field hockey program. She has experience coaching women's lacrosse in addition to field hockey. She previously served as an assistant coach for both sports at her alma mater, Susquehanna University, before taking over as the assistant coach for women's lacrosse at Christopher Newport University.

Coach Hughes is in her second season as the assistant coach for the Generals' women's basketball program following graduation from W&L in May 2021. The two-time team captain was named a Honorable Mention All-American by the WBCA as a senior. Her academic involvement included a capstone project focusing on the history of women's athletics at Washington and Lee.

The NCAA Women Coaches Academy, hosted in partnership between WeCOACH, is a multi-day growth and development program available to NCAA coaches of all experience levels. It is designed for women coaches who are ready to increase their individual effectiveness by learning advanced skills and strategies that directly affect their personal and team success.

Founded in 2011, WeCOACH is the premier membership organization committed to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches across all sports and levels. Previously known as the Alliance of Women Coaches, the one-of-a-king nonprofit outfit reinvigorated its brand in August 2018. By providing a supportive and unified network, educational programs and resources, and access to in-person and digital resources, WeCOACH has helped change the landscape for women coaches and administrators.

The ODAC announced an expansion of its partnership with WeCOACH earlier this summer.

Stay tuned to the ODAC website and its feeds on social media platforms for future editions of Talking Title IX. Be sure to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram.

IMPORTANT NOTES AND IMPACTS OF TITLE IX

• Title IX was passed by Congress and written into law by President Richard M. Nixon in 1972.
• Title IX states that "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
• Title IX has had many impacts, but five of the major benefits include:
  • equality in enrollment for educational courses
  • women pursue and earn more degrees
  • women become collegiate professors
  • more girls and women not only play more sports, but more coach and become athletic administrators
  • protection for pregnant women from blatant discrimination (removed from school, offered lesser courses)
  • women increased participation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)