May 21, 2009

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland assistant men's basketball coach Keith Booth has been selected to attend the Achieving Coaching Excellence program offered by the Black Coaches Association.

The four-day program offered from May 31 to June 3 in Indianapolis, is designed to prepare the next generation of ethnic minority collegiate head basketball coaches. Booth was selected from a number of coaches nationally who applied to attend the program.

"It's truly an honor to be selected as a member of the 2009 ACE program," said Booth. "The program's mission and goals directly correlate with the continued success of the coaching profession. I'm certain the training offered through ACE, coupled with my experience, will allow me to further expand my overall development as a college coach."

The mission of the program is to promote the collegiate athletic coaching profession to ethnic minority coaches; to identify, recruit and retain ethnic minorities in the profession; to provide professional development strategies for coaches; to enhance leadership skills and support opportunities for collegiate minority basketball coaches.

"Keith is an outstanding young coach," said head coach Gary Williams. "The Achieving Coaching Excellence program is a great opportunity for Keith to continue to grow in the coaching profession."

At the conclusion of the 2008 ACE class, 70 coaches had completed the program. Of that group, 19 head coaching positions have been attained by those participating in the program.