The NJCAA and TopConnect have announced a mutual partnership, presenting the inaugural TopConnect NJCAA Virtual Symposium. The initial event is set for October 8-9.
TopConnect (formerly Villa 7) originated in 2003 by then VCU Athletic Director Dr. Richard Sander, identifies the top basketball assistant coaches in the country, and connects them with mid-major Athletic Directors providing tremendous networking opportunities for both parties. Following the recent success of TopConnect Basketball 2020, Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO, and Dr. Richard Sander began to develop a program for the head men’s and women’s basketball coaches of the NJCAA.
TopConnect develops programming that allows top coaches to hear from a wide variety of successful leaders. Prominent head coaches, panels of mid-major Athletic Directors, major media and sports influencers, the inner circle of college basketball, and extremely successful business leaders who share their leadership experiences. The three-word mantra of “Connect. Prepare. Lead.” identifies the purpose of TopConnect.
Since the inception of Villa 7 (now TopConnect), the program has produced numerous Division I head coaches including Anthony Grant (Dayton), Buzz Williams (Texas A&M), Shaka Smart (Texas), Steve Forbes (Wake Forest), and recently Greg Gary (Mercer), Brett Nelson (Holy Cross) and Bryan Mullins (Southern Illinois).
Coaches invited to participate in the event are:
| Billy | Begley | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | East Mississippi Community College |
| Bryan | Bender | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Southwest Mississippi CC |
| Reco | Dawson | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Central Georgia Technical College |
| Cole | Dewey | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Garden City CC |
| Joseph | Eatmon | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Shelton State Community College |
| Kyle | Fisher | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Butler Community College |
| Yusef | Fitzgerald | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Hinds Community College |
| Todd | Franklin | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Vincennes |
| Shaun | Gutting | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Casper College |
| Rylee | Hernandez | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Williston State College |
| Ben | Hicks | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Chattahoochee Valley C.C. |
| Brian | Hoberecht | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Kilgore College |
| Brad | Hoyt | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | John Wood Community College |
| Drew | Kelly | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Harcum College |
| Arthur | Latham | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Motlow St. College |
| Martin | McCann | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Daytona State College |
| Scott | Monarch | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Grayson College |
| Bill | Morosco | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Independence Community College |
| Kevin | OConnor | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Murray State College |
| Hank | Plona | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Indian Hills Community College |
| Tim | Sandquist | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Kirkwood Community College |
| Jason | Sautter | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Seward County |
| Scott | Schumacher | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Blinn College |
| Zach | Settembre | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Tallahassee Community College |
| Walter | Shaw | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Brunswick Community College |
| Jeremy | Shulman | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Eastern Florida State College |
| Kyle | Smithpeters | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | John A. Logan College |
| Steve | Soza | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Western Wyoming Community College |
| Chad | Van Riessen | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Iowa Western Community College |
| Nicholas | Wade | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Angelina College |
| Jake | Williams | Head Men’s Basketball Coach | Dodge City Community College |
| MJ | Baker | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Eastern Florida State College |
| Alex | Furr | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Panola College |
| Hana | Haden | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Moberly Area Community College |
| Taylor | Harris | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Miles Community College |
| Matthew | Huddleston | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Tallahassee Community College |
| Ashley | McGee | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Jefferson College |
| Cayla | Petree | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Gulf Coast State College |
| Karrie | Redeker | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Illinois Central College |
| Jeremy | Thompson | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Monroe College Bronx |
| Madonna | Thompson | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | Shelton State Community College |
| Sharon | Thompson | Head Women’s Basketball Coach | East Mississippi Community College |
TopConnect works in conjunction with East Tennessee State University’s Doctoral Program in Global Sport Leadership and is a subsidiary of Connected Media, LLC.
For further information visit the TopConnect NJCAA website: TopConnect NJCAA Virtual Seminar Home
