HONOLULU — University of Hawai'i women's basketball associate head coach Alex Delanian has been selected to participate in the 2024 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Next Generation Institute.
 
Delanian is among 32 coaches who will participate in the high-level education program for experienced assistant coaches who aspire to become head coaches at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels.
 
Now in its second year, 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. 
 
To be eligible for selection, 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 meet prior to (virtually), during (in person) and after (virtually) the WBCA Convention, which will be held April 4-7 in Cleveland in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Final Four.
 
Delanian joined the UH women's basketball program as Director of Operations in 2013 and was hired as an assistant coach in 2014. He was elevated to associate head coach prior to the 2016-17 season then spent a year in the same role at UC Santa Barbara. He returned to UH in 2018 and is now in his 10^th season as part of the UH staff led by head coach Laura Beeman. Along the way, Delanian has helped the Rainbow Wahine capture two Big West regular-season titles (2015 and '22) and three Big West Championship crowns (2016, '22, '23).
 
"A college athletics team is a company, and the head coach is its CEO," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "A head coach cannot only be a strategist and tactician in the sport. They must also be an inspirational leader, businessperson, communicator, marketer, visionary, and manager of people and resources. The Next Generation Institute challenges participants to put aside the X's and O's for a while and concentrate on understanding and developing those skills so that they are prepared to take the next step in their careers and become successful CEOs."