Cincinnati’s Ashley Barlow Selected for Prestigious WBCA Next Generation Institute
The University of Cincinnati women’s basketball program just earned a major nod on the coaching front. Associate coach Ashley Barlow has been named a participant in the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute - a prestigious leadership development program designed for assistant coaches with their eyes set on becoming head coaches at the collegiate level.
This isn’t your typical coaching clinic. The WBCA’s Next Generation Institute is all about preparing the next wave of head coaches to lead not just on the court, but across every aspect of a college basketball program. It’s about understanding the full scope of what it means to be the CEO of a team - from managing people and resources to navigating the ever-evolving world of college athletics.
And for Barlow, this is a major step forward.
Now in its fourth year, the program shifts the focus away from X’s and O’s for a couple of days and zooms in on the business side of coaching - communications, marketing, leadership, and program management. It’s a crash course in what it takes to run a team in today’s high-stakes, high-pressure environment.
“The WBCA is pleased to announce the participants for the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “This fourth class of cohorts will be challenged to set aside X’s and O’s for two days during the upcoming WBCA Convention in Phoenix and concentrate on understanding and developing the skills in business, communications, marketing and management of both people and resources that is required to be a successful head coach in this new landscape of college athletics.”
Barlow joins a talented and diverse group of assistant coaches from across the country who are all making waves in their respective programs. From Power Five schools to mid-majors, the 2026 class represents a wide range of basketball minds, all united by one goal: to lead.
Here’s the full list of coaches selected for the 2026 WBCA Next Generation Institute:
- Ashley Barlow, University of Cincinnati
- Donald Bohannon, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- Erika Brown, Fairfield University
- Janet Butler, University of Denver
- Mandi Carver, Oklahoma State University
- Josh Cooperwood, Loyola University Maryland
- Yannick Denson, Abilene Christian University
- Krystle Evans, University of West Georgia
- Brianna Finch, George Washington University
- Michael Floyd, Sacramento State University
- Eric Gracia, East Tennessee State University
- Jason Harris, East Carolina University
- Patrick Harrison, Wichita State University
- Bri Hutchen, University of Delaware
- Robert Isme, American University
- Durmon Dontae Jennings, University of North Texas
- Crayton "CJ" Jones, University of Virginia
- Sarah Jones, University of Akron
- Latara King, University of Washington
- John Leonzo, Wright State University
- Shareese McBrayer, Eastern Michigan University
- Landis McCoy, Longwood University
- Brock McGinnis, University of Kansas
- Khalilah Mitchell, University of Hawaii
- Colleen Moriarty, New Jersey Institute of Technology
- Morgan Paige, University of Kansas
- Brittany Pinkney, University of Richmond
- Khadija Rushdan, Marquette University
- Bianca Smith, Michigan State University
- Abby Stamp, University of Iowa
- Matthew Smith, Washington State University
- Anthony Turner, Southern Methodist University
- Brett Vana, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
- Bridget Williams, Benedict College
To be selected, each coach had to be a current member of the WBCA, have at least five years of coaching experience, and be nominated by a fellow member. The program will run alongside the WBCA Convention in Phoenix, scheduled for April 2-5.
This is more than just a résumé booster - it’s a signal that Barlow is on the fast track. With her name now among some of the most promising coaching talent in the country, it’s clear that the Bearcats have a rising star on their bench.