University of Memphis Athletics
Three Tigers Selected to WBCA 'So You Want To Be A Coach' Class
Jan 16, 2025 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – Memphis seniors Layken Cox, Destyne Jackson and Alasia Smith were selected to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association 22nd "So You Want To Be A Coach" class. The trio are the first in program history to be selected, and they will participate in the two-day workshop on April 3 and 4 during the WBCA Convention in Tampa.
The program teaches skills necessary for coaches, introduces female basketball players to coaches and administrators and raises awareness of the talent pool of women's basketball players who have a passion and interest in coaching.
"I'm extremely proud of all three young women for receiving this honor and taking the next step in life after graduation," said head coach Alex Simmons. "To watch them grow through the years as players and leaders is inspirational, and it is great to see their desire to be molded into the next generation of great coaches."
Cox played two seasons at Gardner-Webb under Simmons before spending the last year-plus in the Bluff City. She averaged 8.0 points and 4.6 rebounds on the historic GWU team that was crowned the Big South regular season and conference champions following an 18-0 mark in league play. She played her 100th career game on Wednesday night against UTSA.
Smith played three seasons for Gardner-Webb and was First Team All-Conference and the Big South Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23. Her 108 steals ranked second in all of Division I, and she currently sits second all-time among active players in steals (373) and is fifth in career rebounds (1,204). She has 43 career double-doubles – 28 at GWU and 15 at Memphis – and was named to the 2023-24 All-AAC Newcomer Team and All-Academic Team. Smith graduated from Memphis in December 2024.
Jackson came to Memphis in 2022-23 after two seasons at Wright State, where she won the Horizon League regular season and conference championship. In the NCAA Tournament that year, she posted seven points and four rebounds to help the Raiders to an upset over Arkansas in round one. A 2022-23 All-AAC Academic Team member, Jackson graduated in May 2023 from Memphis.
About the WBCA
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, 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 coaches to those 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 WBCA.org for more details about the association.
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