Patti Phillips will sit down with top sports administrators and coaches as they share their personal career paths, insights on leading in women’s sports, and strategies for developing female athletes and student-athletes on and off the court.
Women Leaders in Sports and BSN SPORTS invite you to join us for engaging panel discussion moderated by Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in Sports. Patti will be joined by distinguished panel of sports administrators and coaches to delve into an array of pivotal topics. Discussion points will center around their personal career paths in sports, providing insights into effective leadership within women's sports, and sharing strategies aimed at the holistic development of female athletes and student-athletes, both on and off the field. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable perspectives from industry leaders on advancing and supporting women in sports.
BSN SPORTS' new girls' sports program provides coaches FREE access to resources to help build athletes confidence, motivation and mental wellness.
Women Leaders is an expanding membership community of women and men who strive to grow as leaders and believe in diversity and equity in leadership. Through year-round world-class leadership development, career training, and access to a powerful network, Women Leaders accelerates the leadership potential of women to positively impact sports.
Patti Phillips
CEO
Women Leaders in Sports
With over 30 years of trailblazing experience, Patti Phillips has influenced the world of leadership and sports from countless angles. As CEO, executive director, NCAA program coordinator, color analyst, and coach, Phillips has remained steadfast and intentional about her career and overall leadership imprint.
Patti Phillips is currently the CEO of Women Leaders in Sports - a vibrant community of over 5,500 members on a mission to develop, connect, and champion women to advance and be a powerful influence in sports. Phillips has led the organization since 2010 and created a space for women to develop skills and leadership potential through mentorships, leadership training, creating platforms for women to be celebrated, and building a powerful community of women supporting women.
Jennifer Lynne Williams
Chief Development Officer,
USA Basketball
Vic Schaefer
Head Coach, University of Texas Women’s Basketball
Tiffany Daniels
Associate Commissioner for Competition and Senior Woman Administrator, SEC
Carol Hutchins
Former Head Coach, University of Michigan Softball
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Jennifer Lynne Williams was announced as the new Chief Development Officer for USA Basketball on May 25, 2021. In her role, Williams oversees all aspects of the USA Basketball Foundation, including developing a comprehensive fundraising platform to support various USA Basketball national team programs, youth and sport development initiatives, and programs that promote women's empowerment and social responsibility. On July 20, 2022, Williams made history by securing a $3.5 million donation from the Tull Family Foundation. This donation is the most significant gift ever received by the USA Basketball Foundation since its establishment in 2019.
Named the director of intercollegiate athletics at Alabama State University on Oct. 10, 2018, she previously served as the university's interim athletic director and deputy athletic director for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 academic years. During her time at ASU, the Hornets experienced tremendous success, with athletic teams winning 43 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championships, three consecutive commissioner cups, and two conference academic awards for the highest GPA under her leadership.
Williams spent four years (2012-16) at North Carolina A&T State University as the associate athletic director for development and executive director of the Aggie Athletic Foundation. While there, Williams oversaw all giving initiatives for athletics while supervising the athletics marketing department. In 2014, the Aggie Athletic Foundation was recognized as a model booster organization by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Williams also worked at DePaul University as the assistant director of development for athletics (2009-12) and in development and marketing for Women Leaders in College Sports (formerly the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators).
Williams was named the 2018 Women Leaders in College Sports Division I (FCS) Executive of the Year. She was also selected by his alma mater, North Carolina Central University, as a 40-under-40 Class of 2016 honoree, recognizing young NCCU alums who have made significant contributions in the arts, entertainment, healthcare, sciences, education, law, business, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, public service, or government.
A four-year letterman and two-year captain in women's basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Williams began her professional career as a reporter for the Tar Heel Sports Network and as a production assistant for Fox Sports South.
The Detroit native earned her bachelor's degree as a double major in journalism and African American history at North Carolina and a master's degree in athletic administration from NCCU, where she graduated magna cum laude.
Williams resides in Colorado Springs, CO, with her husband, Valdez; daughter, Harper; and son, Jackson.
Two-Time National Coach of the Year Vic Schaefer is 109-32 in four seasons as the head coach of the Texas Longhorns. The 2024-25 season will mark his 20th season as a head coach and 40th season in coaching.
Schaefer is a 3X SEC Coach of the Year and was the 2023 Big 12 Coach of the Year. He has guided Texas to the Elite Eight in three of the last four seasons and a conference championship in each of the last three seasons.
Schaefer led Mississippi State to two national championship games and in 2017 his Bulldog team broke UConn’s 111 game winning streak in the national semifinals.
Schaefer, a Texas native who has spent 25 of his 39 years in coaching within the state of Texas and 30 years in the Southwest, is the fifth head coach in program history.
In 19 seasons as a collegiate head coach, which also includes eights seasons at Mississippi State and seven seasons at Sam Houston State, Schaefer now owns a career record of 410-204.
In the 2023-24 season Texas won 33 games, their most in a season since the 1985-86 season. The Longhorns won the Big 12 Tournament Championship, marking their third straight conference championship. Texas advanced to the Elite Eight for the third time in the last four seasons. Madison Booker earned WBCA All-America honors and was named the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year. Booker was also selected Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Freshman of the Year.
Tiffany Daniels currently serves as Associate Commissioner for Competition and Senior Woman Administrator for the Southeastern Conference, a post she’s held since 2013.
As a member of the conference’s executive staff, Daniels has oversight of the league’s sport administration and championships programs, serving 21 sports.
She’s held previous posts with Georgia State University, the Georgia Dome, the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic, the WNBA’s Orlando Miracle, the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers and Philips Arena.
She’s been recognized by Women Leaders in Sport as the Nell Jackson Nike Executive of the Year and honored in the 11th class of Sports Business Journal’s Game Changers.
Daniels serves on the Boards of the Cornerstone Schools of Alabama and the Recursion Program and is a founding member of Women’s Foundation of Alabama’s Brilliant Black Girl Collective.
Tiffany currently resides in Birmingham, AL with her husband, Donald, two daughters Tyler (16), Payton (15) and, her bonus daughter, her niece, JaNae (21).
Head coach Carol Hutchins wrapped up her 38th season at the helm of the University of Michigan softball program in 2022. The winningest coach in NCAA softball history, Hutchins has guided the Wolverines to an NCAA title and 22 Big Ten Conference titles and solidified Michigan among the top softball programs in the country. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
With a career record of 1,707-551-5 over her 39 total seasons as a NCAA head coach, Hutchins is the winningest coach in NCAA softball history. She reclaimed the mantle with the Wolverines' 3-0 win against Northern Kentucky (Feb. 25, 2022) to pass Arizona's Mike Candrea's record of 1,674 career wins. Hutchins previously held the top spot for more than two years after surpassing former Fresno State coach Margie Wright's longtime record of 1,457 in 2016. Hutchins is the winningest coach -- male or female -- in Michigan Athletics history.
"Hutch" has been a part of the Michigan softball program since 1983 when she joined the staff as an assistant coach under Bob DeCarolis. She moved into the head coach position in 1985 and, in each of her 38 head coaching seasons, has continued Michigan's tradition of softball success. Michigan has never suffered a losing season in program history.
Hutchins has led the Wolverines to the Women's College World Series on 12 occasions, and, in 2005, the Maize and Blue became the first program east of the Mississippi River to claim the NCAA national championship when it defeated UCLA in the championship series. Michigan's record-setting 2005 season was the culmination of two decades of dedication for Hutchins and her current and former players and coaches. In that magical season, Michigan set records in a number of categories, including:
• First softball national championship
• A program-best 65 wins
• A program-best 32 consecutive victories (spanning 47 days, from Feb. 13 to March 30)
• First No. 1 ranking (March 22)
• First No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament
• First victory over a top-ranked opponent (6-2 win over No. 1 Arizona)
The 2005 season took on added significance when Hutchins was selected to be included in a pool of coaches for USA Softball's Summer Tour. Hutchins helped select both the USA Softball National and Elite teams and was appointed head coach for the Elite Team at the Canada Cup and made assistant coach for the National Team at the Japan Cup. The Elite Team posted a 10-1 record at the Canada Cup to earn the silver medal, while winning the Sendai Series at the Japan Cup.
Michigan returned to the WCWS championship series in 2015, ultimately settling for NCAA runner-up honors after falling to Florida in the third game of the best-of-three series. The 2015 Wolverines boasted a 60-8 record, led the nation with 118 home runs, also set program records in runs scored (540) and runs-batted in (504) and boasted a program-best five NFCA All-Americans.
Hutchins' squads have also captured 22 Big Ten regular-season titles, 10 Big Ten Tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament 29 times (1992-93, '95-2019, '21-22), earning 18 NCAA Regional crowns and making 12 appearances in the NCAA Women's College World Series (1995-98, 2001-02, '04-'05, '09, '13, '15-'16).
She has earned 18 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year honors, eight NFCA Regional Coach of the Year awards and a pair of NFCA National Coach of the Year honors. The Hutchins-led Michigan coaching staff has garnered Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 15 of the last 24 seasons (1998-99, 2001-02, '04-'05, '08-'10, '13-'16, '18, '21) and was named Speedline/NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year for the first time in 2005. In 2016, Hutchins was named the inaugural recipient of espnW's Pat Summitt Coaching Award, presented to the coach who “exemplifies the character and courage” of the legendary basketball coach who led the Tennessee Lady Vols.
The Wolverines have received 69 total All-America citations under Hutchins, including 23 first-team nods, while 14 have earned Academic All-America accolades. Michigan players have claimed 20 Big Ten Player of the Year awards, 16 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year awards, and 13 Big Ten Freshman of the Year awards during her coaching tenure. Wolverine players have accumulated 202 Academic All-Big Ten awards, 212 All-Big Ten citations and 154 All-Mideast or All-Great Lakes Region certificates. Four former Hutchins-coached Wolverines -- Jenny Allard, Vicki Morrow, Alicia Seegart and Bonnie Tholl -- were named to the Big Ten's All-Decade (1990s) team -- the most from any conference school.
Hutchins' players have also excelled at the international and professional levels. Amanda Chidester contributed to Team USA's silver-medal performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, delivering two game-winning RBI hits, and gold at the 2016 WBSC World Championship and, along with Sierra Romero, the 2015 World Cup of Softball and Japan Cup. Former Michigan players Morrow (1987), Patti Benedict (1995) and Jordan Taylor (2011) were members of U.S. Pan American Games gold-medal teams. Maggie Viefhaus claimed gold with the USA junior team at the 2007 Junior Pan Am Championships and again at the 2007 Junior World Championships. Samantha Findlay, Tiffany Haas, Jessica Merchant and Jennie Ritter played for Hutchins during the 2005 Canada Cup and International Cup, while Findlay and Ritter joined Hutchins again in 2006 as the Wolverine trio led the USA squad to gold at the World University Games.
On March 31, 2000, Hutchins moved to the top of the all-time win list for University of Michigan coaches -- female or male -- with win No. 638, a 1-0 victory vs. Indiana in the conference season-opening game. On February 28, 2007, she became just the seventh coach in NCAA softball history -- and the sixth in Division I -- to reach 1,000 career wins. She became the first collegiate coach to 1,500 wins with an 11-3, six-inning win over Kent State on March 19, 2017, and similarly, the first to 1,600 with a 6-2 win at rival Ohio State on April 13, 2019.
Before becoming Michigan's third softball coach, Hutchins spent one year as the head coach at Ferris State University (1982). While at Ferris, she led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and was selected Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Hutchins was an assistant coach at Indiana University (1981) -- under legendary coach Gayle Blevins -- and at Michigan (1983-84).
A 1979 graduate of Michigan State University, Hutchins displayed her athletic talents in both basketball and softball (1976-79), helping the Spartans to the 1976 Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Softball Championship. In 2003, she was chosen as the recipient of the Nell Jackson Award, considered the highest honor the Michigan State Varsity "S" Club can give a female alumna for professional accomplishments and community service and was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021. She was also inducted into the Greater Lansing Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Hutchins founded the Michigan Softball Academy in 2010 in conjunction with the program's annual "Pink Game." The academy is a one-night on-field clinic for adults that raises funds for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer organization. Hutchins and the Michigan softball program initially formed an affiliation with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer for its annual walk in 2007. Since then, the Wolverines have raised more than $1,000,000 for the American Cancer Society.
A native of Lansing, Michigan, Hutchins also holds a master's degree in physical education from Indiana (1981).