LIVINGSTON, Ala. -- The University of West Alabama Department of Athletics has received a Coaching Enhancement Grant from the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), which will be used over the course of the next three years to fund an Assistant Women’s Cross Country coaching position. 

Janet Montgomery, who currently serves as Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator at the university, played a major role in helping UWA become one of just 18 Division II schools selected for a NCAA Coaching Enhancement Grant.  This award will allow the university to employ an Assistant Women’s Cross Country coach effective this summer.  “Any assistance we can give our coaches who are directing two sports can only benefit the student-athletes in that program.  This grant will allow us to do that with the Cross Country program,” said Montgomery.

“We are very appreciative to the NCAA for this opportunity,” said UWA Director of Athletics E. J. Brophy. “This will put UWA in a situation where we can hire a solid coach to assist with our Women’s Cross Country team that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. This is a definite windfall for our department and we are grateful. Janet Montgomery did a super job getting this done.”

Created due to the NCAA’s commitment to address the issues of access, recruitment, selection and long-term success of women, racial/ethnic minorities and other individuals in Division II who seek to overcome hiring barriers by providing grant money for the creation of assistant coaching positions in Division II, the NCAA Coaching Enhancement Grant Program provides funding for Division II institutions to enhance diversity and inclusion through the hiring of full-time coaching positions. “I am very pleased that the NCAA chose the University of West Alabama to receive this grant.  An assistant coach is going to be a major step forward for our program, especially for the women’s team. I appreciate the help from Dr. Holland, E.J. Brophy and Janet Montgomery who were instrumental in securing the grant and look forward to finding the best coaching prospect we can,” said Head Cross Country Coach Dr. Don Medeiros.

The University of West Alabama will receive the grant funding for three years. Second and third year funding of the grant is contingent upon the submittal of a year-end status report from the institution. All applying institutions must demonstrate a commitment to diversity and history of inclusiveness.