ATLANTA (3/6/2019) -- University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball assistant coach Molly Bateman was recognized as one of the top 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches nationally with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announcing the WBCA Thirty Under 30 on Wednesday.

The WBCA Thirty Under 30 program, presented by Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International's newly renamed loyalty program, was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.

Bateman joined the Titans in June 2015 after head coach Bernard Scott was hired to lead the program. She has served on his staff all four seasons and was promoted to recruiting coordinator last summer prior to the start of the 2018-19 school year. Bateman, a former standout guard at Defiance College, also has coached as an assistant for two seasons each at Averett University and Mount Union College.

"I am so happy that Molly received this honor," Scott said. "She's a loyal, dependable and hard-working assistant coach and this is well deserved. She has done a lot for our program in her four years here. She has a bright future in this profession!"

The WBCA program is in its fourth year of existence. It's the first time a Detroit Mercy women's basketball has received a Thirty Under 30 honor from the WBCA. Four coaches in the Horizon League overall were bestowed with the honor among the 30 recognized from across the country in 2018-19.

"The WBCA is pleased to recognize up and coming talent in our coaching family. The 30 coaches who have been named to receive the Thirty Under 30 Award are deserving of this recognition, and the WBCA congratulates them for distinguishing themselves early in their careers," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew in a release. "These coaches have demonstrated eagerness, effectiveness, loyalty, love of the game, and a commitment to the student-athlete. We celebrate their effort on the basketball court as teachers and equally applaud the extensive role they play in impacting the lives of their student-athletes."

About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. The WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit www.WBCA.org for more details about the Association.

Here are the 2019 WBCA Thirty Under 30 honorees:
 

Name	Title	School
Daniel Barber	Assistant Coach	Clemson University
Ashley Barlow	Assistant Coach	Wright State University
Molly Bateman	Assistant Coach	University of Detroit Mercy
Tyler Bates	Head Coach	Loudonville High School
Michelle Bilek	Assistant Coach	University of Chicago
Sara Binkhorst	Assistant Coach	Brown University
Rebecca Burke	Head Coach	University of Charleston
Tatum Burstrom	Assistant Coach	Carson-Newman University
Kenia Cole	Assistant Coach	Presbyterian College
Anya Covington	Assistant Coach	University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Alexandria Coyne	Assistant Coach	University of West Florida
Scott Gillespie	Assistant Coach	Illinois State University
Katelyn Grisillo	Assistant Coach	Wingate University
Christina Harvey	Assistant Coach	Gannon University
Heidi Heintz	Assistant Coach	University of California-San Diego
Chelsea Hudson	Assistant Coach	Panola College
Abby Jump	Assistant Coach	Wright State University
Jenna Kotas	Assistant Coach	Purdue University Northwest
Lindsey Moore	Assistant Coach	University of The Pacific
Shannon Murphy	Assistant Coach	Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Megan Phelps	Assistant Coach	Bowdoin College
Emily Ragsdale	Assistant Coach	Drury University
Nicole Razor	Associate Coach	Anderson University
Brianna Sanders	Assistant Coach	University of Akron
Amber Smith	Assistant Coach	University of Kentucky
Roman Tubner	Assistant Coach	Indiana State University
Jazmone Turner	Associate Head Coach	Coppin State University
Candice Walker	Assistant Coach	University of Massachusetts
Jazz Weaver	Assistant Coach	Canisius College
Hailey Yohn	Assistant Coach	High Point University