The Carol Eckman Award is an award given annually since 1986 to the women's

college basketball In United States colleges, top-tier basketball is governed by collegiate athletic bodies including National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the United States Collegiate Athleti ...

coach that "best demonstrates the character of the late Carol Eckman, the mother of the collegiate women's basketball national championship". Given by the

Women's Basketball Coaches Association The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is an association of coaches of women's basketball teams at all levels. The organization was formed in 1981, with the goal of addressing the needs of women's basketball coaches. The mission of the WBCA ...

(WBCA), the award is named for former women's

head coach A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...

Carol Eckman, best known for establishing in 1969 the first National Invitational Women's Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament. Eckman, who served as head coach at West Chester State College, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and Lock Haven State College, started the national tournament while at West Chester State College. She started the sixteen team tournament in 1969. Eckman invited 15 teams to the West Chester campus, charging each $25 to cover officials and awards. This tournament served as a springboard for the formation of the

AIAW The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) was founded in 1971 to govern collegiate women's athletics in the United States and to administer national championships (see AIAW Champions). It evolved out of the Commission on Interc ...

two years later, which administered national championships for many sports, including basketball, from 1971 until 1982, when the NCAA became involved in women's sports. The criteria for the award include: * Sportsmanship * Commitment to the student-athlete * Honesty * Ethical behavior * Courage

Winners

Sue Ramsey head coach of the Ashland University Eagles

References

Sources

External links

Carol Eckman Award
webpage. Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) official website {{Women's college basketball award navbox Awards established in 1986 College basketball coaching awards in the United States Sportsmanship trophies and awards 1986 establishments in the United States