ALBANY, Ga. — Albany State University announced today that it has received a Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching grant from the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF®). Grants were awarded to institutions to support collegiate women coaches on the rise, assisting with living expenses, professional development and mentorship. Albany State is among this year’s grant recipients, with funding supporting women coaching fellows across a wide variety of sports.
Ty’Janae Brown, a 2025 graduate of Albany State University and former member of the Golden Rams softball program, will serve as Albany State’s WSF VanDerveer Fellow and an assistant coach with the women’s basketball program.
“We are extremely proud to be selected as a recipient of the Women’s Sports Foundation Tara VanDerveer Fund,” said Dr. Kristene Kelly, Director of Athletics at Albany State University. “One of our responsibilities as leaders in college athletics is to create opportunities for the next generation to learn, grow and see a pathway for themselves in this profession. Ty has shown tremendous initiative in pursuing her interest in coaching, and this grant gives us an opportunity to continue investing in her development while providing meaningful experience that will prepare her for the next step in her career.”
Brown’s transition into coaching began while pursuing her Master of Accounting degree at Albany State. After expressing an interest in women’s basketball and the coaching profession, she served as a graduate assistant with the Golden Rams women’s basketball program during the 2025-26 academic year. As a WSF VanDerveer Fellow, Brown will continue developing as a collegiate coach while gaining valuable experience in recruiting, player development, program operations and other aspects of the profession.
“We’re excited to have Ty continue with our program in this new role,” said Albany State Head Women’s Basketball Coach Todd Triplett. “She worked hard for us last year as a graduate assistant and has shown that she wants to learn and grow as a coach. This is a great opportunity for her, and we’re glad to have her on our staff.”
Since Title IX’s passage, the representation of women in collegiate coaching roles has drastically declined. During the 1970-71 academic year, women served as head coaches for 90% of women’s college teams. Fast forward to the 2024-25 academic year, women held only 41% of head coaching positions in women’s NCAA sports. The disparity is even more pronounced among BIPOC women, who made up only 8% of head coaches in women’s NCAA sports. In the same year, only 29% of all NCAA assistant coaches were women, with only 7% of all assistant coaches for men’s and women’s teams being BIPOC women.
Furthermore, WSF’s research report, “Play to Lead: The Generational Impact of Sports on Women’s Leadership,” revealed that there are still barriers to sport participation, including a lack of women role models and access to quality coaches. The data shows the lack of representation in coaching positions throughout the country is evident, and WSF is taking steps to address it by expanding the pipeline for aspiring women coaches at the collegiate level through the Tara VanDerveer Fund.
Inspired by the trailblazing coach, the WSF Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching honors her legacy while investing in the future of collegiate sports. At the center of the program is the VanDerveer Fellow experience. Fellows participate in monthly connection and development sessions, engage with mentor coaches, and learn from inspirational guest speakers who are leaders in sport and beyond. The experience also includes a trip to New York City for WSF’s Annual Salute to Women in Sports® and related events. Together, these opportunities foster a strong, supportive community where Fellows learn from experts and each other, while applying new insights to their teams and careers.
This cohort continues the work of the Fund, which has now provided more than $1.6 million to 58 colleges and universities, supporting 68 VanDerveer Fellows across 17 sports. WSF looks forward to seeing where this group takes their coaching careers.
“For more than 50 years, the Women’s Sports Foundation has worked to expand opportunities for women to lead in sport, and coaching is a critical part of that work,” said WSF CEO Danette Leighton. “Women coaches bring invaluable perspectives, leadership and lived experience to athletes and the broader sports ecosystem. Through the Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching, we are helping ensure more women have the opportunity to build careers and shape the future of sport. When young athletes see women coaching and leading, they see what is possible for themselves, and that is a legacy we are proud to continue building.”
About Albany State University Athletics
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 12 sports: women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, women’s cross country, men’s and women’s basketball, softball, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
About the Women’s Sports Foundation
The Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF) exists to enable girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life. We are an ally, an advocate, and a catalyst for tomorrow’s leaders. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, we are one of the first organizations to recognize the powerful connection between sport access, equity, and society. For over 50 years, WSF has been changing the game through its research, advocacy, and community programming, investing over $115 million to help girls and women play, compete, and lead – in sports and beyond – without barriers. A leader and champion of the entire women’s sports ecosystem, WSF amplifies the vital societal and cultural impact that is made when girls and women play sports. When girls play, they lead, and we all win!®
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