ATLANTA, Ga. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs Women's Basketball Assistant Coach Liz Doran is one of 21 coaches selected to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Inaugural Next Generation Institute, announced Tuesday morning by the organization.

"I am honored and excited to be selected for the NGI," said Doran.  "It is a tremendous opportunity to grow professionally and connect with an exceptional cohort. I'm grateful for the support from UCCS to pursue this opportunity and look forward to all I can bring back to support the women in our program."
 
The WBCA Next Generation Institute is a new high-level education program for experienced assistant coaches who aspire to become head coaches at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels.  The Next Generation Institute curriculum focuses on the CEO attributes needed to lead a program and be a problem-solver in today's ever-changing landscape of higher education and the enterprise of intercollegiate athletics. 
 
In her seventh year as an assistant coach at UCCS, Doran brings more than 15 years of collegiate coaching experience. Doran, who served as the head coach at Colorado College for eight years, coached one All-American, a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year, three all-region selections and 17 All-SCAC selections in her eight seasons with the Tigers. She led the team to five conference tournament appearances and coached four student-athletes who scored more than 1,000 career points.
 
"Liz has a very good understanding of the game of basketball and consistently adds insights and ideas which have enhanced our success as a team," said UCCS Head Women's Basketball Coach Lynn Plett.  "Her communication with our players in practice, as well as during games, is clear and consistent with our overall philosophy and game plans.  I have total confidence in her scouting assessments of our opponents as well as her judgment in recruiting.  She is a genuine caring person with high moral standards and integrity.  I have never had any concerns of her failing to follow NCAA rules or representing our institution and program in a negative or professional manner."

Doran spent four seasons at Oglethorpe University, where she helped lead the team to the Division III national semifinals and three national tournament appearances and helped coach two All-Americans. Doran was also an assistant athletic director and served as the department's compliance officer, Senior Woman Administrator and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee advisor. 

Doran is an active participant at the Women's Basketball Coaches Association National Conventions and is a member of the WBCA and Alliance of Women's Coaches. She earned her master's degree from Georgia State in 2004 and her bachelor's degree from Oglethorpe in 2001.
 
To be eligible for selection to participate in the program, a person must be a current WBCA member, must have at least five years' experience as a college assistant coach, and must have been nominated by their head coach. Participants will meet prior to (virtually), during (in person) and after (virtually) the 2023 WBCA Convention in Dallas, Texas on March 31–April 2.