University of Minnesota Athletics
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Jenkins Selected to Participate at TopConnect Basketball Symposium
6/27/2022 8:44:00 AM | Men's Basketball
University of Minnesota men's basketball assistant coach Marcus Jenkins has been selected to participate in the prestigious 2022 TopConnect Basketball Symposium taking place at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Monday, June 27. It marks the third-straight year Jenkins has been invited to the TopConnect event.
Presented by Teamworks and INFLCR, TopConnect (formerly Villa 7), originated in 2003 by then VCU Athletic Director Dr. Richard Sander, identifies the top assistant basketball coaches in the country and connects them with mid-major Athletic Directors providing tremendous networking and leadership development opportunities for both parties.
Jenkins joined the Golden Gopher staff in May of 2021 after a six-year stint with Richmond from 2015-18. Jenkins began as an assistant coach and was elevated to associate head coach in 2018. Prior to his time at Richmond, Jenkins was an assistant at Princeton from 2011-15, where the Tigers held four-straight winning seasons. He started his collegiate basketball career as the director of operations at Richmond from 2007-11. Jenkins played for Air Force, where he led the Falcons to a NCAA appearance in 2004, the program's first since 1962. He graduated in 2004 and went on to serve in the Air Force for three years in Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont., as a logistics officer.
It marks the third-straight year Jenkins has participated in the event, once as an associate at Richmond and now two times while at Minnesota.
In its fifth year, TopConnect develops educational programming that allows these top assistant coaches to hear from a wide variety of successful leaders and speakers. The 2022 symposium is headlined by a panel of prominent and successful head coaches in Lindy LaRocque, Head Women's Basketball Coach at University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Simon Harris, Head Women's Basketball Coach at East Tennessee State University; John Aiken, Head Men's Basketball Coach at McNeese State University and retired Head Coach, Lon Kruger.
Athletic Directors presenting include, Mark Benson, University of Albany; Mike Capaccio, The Citadel; Bryan Blair, University of Toledo; Chris King, Robert Morris; Scott Garrett, Cleveland State University, Alex Ricker-Gilbert, Jacksonville University; Eugene Marshall, Hampton University; Drew Marrachello, Boston University; and Gene Taylor, Kansas State University.
Also, joining the lineup of influential speakers are Debbie Spander, Insight Sports Advisors; Colton Houston, HD Intelligence; Glenn Sugiyama, DHR Global; Jeff Schemmel, College Sport Solutions and Kevin Barefoot, Teamworks.
Panel discussions and breakout sessions include Expectations of a Head Coach; Preparing for the Interview; First 365 Days Managing the Season and Developing Real Expectations; What ADs are looking for; Scheduling; NIL; Discipline and Motivation; Mental Health; Core Values; Building Support; The Future of College Basketball.
The fan-favorite "Speed Dating" returns and allows for rapid networking to take place between the assistant coaches and administrators.
The three-word mantra of "Connect. Prepare. Lead." identifies the purpose of TopConnect.
Since the inception of TopConnect in 2018, 35 assistant coach and assistant athletic director participants have been promoted to the next chair of Head Coach and Athletic Director as well as a Conference Commissioner.
Presented by Teamworks and INFLCR, TopConnect (formerly Villa 7), originated in 2003 by then VCU Athletic Director Dr. Richard Sander, identifies the top assistant basketball coaches in the country and connects them with mid-major Athletic Directors providing tremendous networking and leadership development opportunities for both parties.
Jenkins joined the Golden Gopher staff in May of 2021 after a six-year stint with Richmond from 2015-18. Jenkins began as an assistant coach and was elevated to associate head coach in 2018. Prior to his time at Richmond, Jenkins was an assistant at Princeton from 2011-15, where the Tigers held four-straight winning seasons. He started his collegiate basketball career as the director of operations at Richmond from 2007-11. Jenkins played for Air Force, where he led the Falcons to a NCAA appearance in 2004, the program's first since 1962. He graduated in 2004 and went on to serve in the Air Force for three years in Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, Mont., as a logistics officer.
It marks the third-straight year Jenkins has participated in the event, once as an associate at Richmond and now two times while at Minnesota.
In its fifth year, TopConnect develops educational programming that allows these top assistant coaches to hear from a wide variety of successful leaders and speakers. The 2022 symposium is headlined by a panel of prominent and successful head coaches in Lindy LaRocque, Head Women's Basketball Coach at University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Simon Harris, Head Women's Basketball Coach at East Tennessee State University; John Aiken, Head Men's Basketball Coach at McNeese State University and retired Head Coach, Lon Kruger.
Athletic Directors presenting include, Mark Benson, University of Albany; Mike Capaccio, The Citadel; Bryan Blair, University of Toledo; Chris King, Robert Morris; Scott Garrett, Cleveland State University, Alex Ricker-Gilbert, Jacksonville University; Eugene Marshall, Hampton University; Drew Marrachello, Boston University; and Gene Taylor, Kansas State University.
Also, joining the lineup of influential speakers are Debbie Spander, Insight Sports Advisors; Colton Houston, HD Intelligence; Glenn Sugiyama, DHR Global; Jeff Schemmel, College Sport Solutions and Kevin Barefoot, Teamworks.
Panel discussions and breakout sessions include Expectations of a Head Coach; Preparing for the Interview; First 365 Days Managing the Season and Developing Real Expectations; What ADs are looking for; Scheduling; NIL; Discipline and Motivation; Mental Health; Core Values; Building Support; The Future of College Basketball.
The fan-favorite "Speed Dating" returns and allows for rapid networking to take place between the assistant coaches and administrators.
The three-word mantra of "Connect. Prepare. Lead." identifies the purpose of TopConnect.
Since the inception of TopConnect in 2018, 35 assistant coach and assistant athletic director participants have been promoted to the next chair of Head Coach and Athletic Director as well as a Conference Commissioner.
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