UConn's Geno Auriemma and his former star Jen Rizzotti are among prominent women's basketball coaches who will play roles as the Women's Basketball Coaches Association considers implementing changes for the betterment of the sport. 

 The WBCA Board of Directions announced coaches who will be part of working group as they consider the suggestions put out there by former WNBA president Val Ackerman which could include changing the dates of the Final Four.

 “Val’s white paper presents a stark assessment of the current state of women’s basketball,” said WBCA President Sue Semrau, head coach at Florida State University. “While the game remains near the height of its popularity, attendance and TV ratings are at a plateau. 

 “We have an opportunity right now to reimagine our sport. What must our sport become if it is to appeal to future generations of athletes and fans? How do we get from here to there? I believe the WBCA is uniquely positioned to help lead the search for those answers."

Auriemma will serve on the Playing Rules and Officiating group along with Kentucky's Matthew Mitchell and West Coast Conference deputy commissioner Connie Hurlbut. Rizzotti,the head coach at Hartford, will be a faculty athletic representative on the Legislation and Governance group. Here is the breakdown courtesy of the official WBCA release. 

  •Legislation and Governance -- Penn State head coach Coquese Washington, the association’s vice president, and Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw co-chair this group, which will focus on how the WBCA might be better represented in a revised NCAA governance structure, how the WBCA can more effectively participate in the NCAA legislative process, and how the WBCA’s own governance structure might be improved in order to have a more efficient organization. Members include Claudette Charney, Hillsdale College; Diane Dickman, NCAA; Danielle O’Banion, Kent State; Martha Putallaz, faculty athletic representatives; Jennifer Rizzotti, Hartford; Christy Thomaskutty, Emory; and Rich Ensor, Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. 

•Playing Rules and Officiating -- Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell, the association’s secretary, Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, and West Coast Conference deputy commissioner Connie Hurlbut co-chair this group, which will focus on whether or not we have the right rules going forward and how the game is officiated. The goal is to improve the quality of the game so that it is more attractive to spectators. Members include Anucha Browne, NCAA; Nikki Caldwell, LSU; Brandan Harrell, Georgia Highlands College; Patricia Manning, Williams College; Joanne McCallie, Duke; Melissa McFerrin, Memphis; and Dawn Staley, South Carolina. •

Professional and Grass Roots Development -- Kansas State head coach Deb Patterson, the association’s treasurer, and Arizona State head coach Charli Turner Thorne, the immediate past president, co-chair this group, which will focus on educational programming that will provide WBCA members with opportunities to become better coaches as well as explore the feasibility of establishing a certification service for coaches of women’s basketball. Members include Amanda Butler, Florida; Tricia Cullop, Toledo; Lisa Mispley Fortier, Gonzaga; Kirsten Moore, Westmont College; Mary Beth Spirk, Moravian College; Carol Callan, USA Basketball; and Todd Starkey, Lenoir-Rhyne.