University of Florida issued the following announcement on Aug. 18.
Men's basketball assistant coach Erik Pastrana has been selected to participate in the prestigious 2021 TopConnect Basketball Virtual Symposium, taking place on August 17 and 18 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.
In its fourth year, TopConnect develops educational programming that allows these top assistant coaches to hear from a wide variety of successful leaders and speakers. The 2021 virtual symposium is headlined by a panel of prominent and successful head coaches in Washington women's head coach Tina Langley and Mike Rhoades, men's head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University. A favorite session allows for rapid networking to take place between the assistant coaches and administrators.
Other sessions include a panel of mid-major athletic directors who recently completed a basketball coaching search. Another is a breakout session on the first 100 days on the job from recent head coaching hires during the past year, navigating the media, a small group setting with search firm representatives from across the country and a panel on coaches who are entering their second year and the lessons they've learned. The three-word mantra of "Connect. Prepare. Lead." identifies the purpose of TopConnect.
Since its inception in 2018, seventeen attendees have been hired as athletic director, head men's basketball coach or head women's basketball coach.
Original source can be found here.
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