BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University announced today it received a Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching grant from the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF^®). Grants were awarded to institutions to support collegiate women coaches on the rise, assisting with living expenses, professional development and mentorship. Bemidji State is one of 11 universities and colleges to receive the grants, which are designated for women coaching fellows in a wide variety of women's sports. 
 
"We are proud of be a member of this year's class of the Women's Sports Foundation Vanderveer Fund recipients," said head coach Amber Fryklund. "We recognize the importance of closing the gender gap in the coaching ranks, and seeing more women in coaching and leadership roles helps inspire female student-athletes and the next generation of female coaches. As one of only two programs in the WCHA with an all-female coaching staff, we take pride in leading by example. This grant will allow us to support another female coach in women's college hockey."
 
Women's Hockey Assistant Coach Jessica Strack has earned the grant and will serve as a WSF VanDerveer Fellow for the 2025-26 season. Strack joined the Beaver Hockey family in the summer of 2025 after most recently serving as an Assistant/Goaltender Coach at Merrimack College that competes in the Hockey East conference in Division I. She is also the Director of Hockey Operations of Stop It Goaltending working under Boston University Goaltending Coach Brian Daccord. She oversees the Beaver netminders while also assisting with hockey operations and recruiting.
 
Strack earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Franklin Pierce University where she graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors and backstopped the Ravens' women's hockey program from 2016-20. Following her collegiate career, Strack competed in the Elite Women's Summer Hockey League in 2020 and later played professionally with the Connecticut Whale of the former Premier Hockey Federation from 2021-23. She then served as a practice goalie for New York of the Professional Women's Hockey League in 2024 before retiring.
 
Bemidji State Women's Hockey will have an all-women coaching staff for the season one of just two programs in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and one of just six in NCAA Division I Hockey.
 
Since Title IX's passage, the representation of women in collegiate coaching roles has drastically declined. During the 1970-71 academic year, women served as head coaches for 90% of women's college teams. Fast forward to the 2023-2024 academic year, women held only 42% of head coaching positions in women's NCAA sports. The disparity is even more pronounced among BIPOC women, who made up only 7% of head coaches in women's NCAA sports. In the same year, only 29% of all NCAA assistant coaches were women, with only 8% of all assistant coaches for men's and women's teams being BIPOC women.
 
Furthermore, WSF's research report, "Play to Lead: The Generational Impact of Sports on Women's Leadership," revealed that there are still barriers to sport participation, including a lack of women role models and access to quality coaches. The data shows the lack of representation in coaching positions throughout the country is evident, and WSF is taking steps to address it by expanding the pipeline for aspiring women coaches at the collegiate level through the Tara VanDerveer Fund. Throughout the grant year, VanDerveer Fellows receive mentorship opportunities with experienced coaches and leaders in the collegiate sport space, including a conversation with Tara VanDerveer herself. Fellows are also invited to workshops focused on key topics to help women coaches succeed in today's sports environment.
 
The Fund has seen success and has made an impact during its short lifespan. Out of the first five classes, 39 WSF VanDerveer Fellows continue to lead in coaching roles, six have stepped into head coaching positions and four have used their fellowship experience to secure jobs in a sports-related field.
 
"For more than 50 years, the Women's Sports Foundation has championed opportunities for women to lead – on the sidelines and beyond," said WSF CEO Danette Leighton. "Expanding the presence of women in coaching is essential not only to equality in sport, but to inspiring the next generation. When young women see a WSF VanDerveer Fellow coaching, they believe they can lead too – and that is the legacy we are committed to building and sustaining with this Fund."
 
To learn more about the VanDerveer Fund and meet the 2025 grant recipients, please visit:
WSF Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching
 
Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's and women's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
About the Women's Sports Foundation
The Women's Sports Foundation^® (WSF^®) exists to enable girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life. We are an ally, an advocate, and a catalyst for tomorrow's leaders. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, we are one of the first organizations to recognize the powerful connection between sport access, equity, and society. For over 50 years, WSF has been changing the game through its research, advocacy, and community programming, investing over $115 million to help girls and women play, compete, and lead – in sports and beyond – without barriers. A leader and champion of the entire women's sports ecosystem, WSF amplifies the vital societal and cultural impact that is made when girls and women play sports. When girls play, they lead, and we all win! To learn more about the Women's Sports Foundation, please visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State women's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X or Instagram, or like them on Facebook.
 
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