The America East welcomed 40 assistant coaches from 15 different sports around the conference for the Continuing Ed Coaches' Forum as part of its Contiuning Ed series. The program was established last year and has now run programs for both young administrators and assistant coaches, while providing a Digital Series featuring experts in various fields from around the country.

The assistant coaches gathered at UMass Lowell's Inn and Conference Center for a two-day program that featured several guest speakers including M. Diane Murphy, the former Athletic Director at Columbia University, and Helen Williams from HMW Sports Consulting.

"It's been at great opportunity to come here," said Stony Brook men's basketball assistant coach Dan Rikard. "It's great to learn from Diane Murphy, who's been an athletic director for over 17 years, because she's also been a head coach and knows what head coaches are looking for in their assistants. She knows what it takes to move up the ranks."

Both Murphy and Williams spoke on a variety of topics to help the assistant coaches develop professionally both in their current jobs and looking ahead to their career aspirations.

"One of the things I've taken out of the conference is that you're in charge of your own career," said Jason Lammers, an assistant ice hockey coach at UMass Lowell. "It's our responsibility to have a plan of action on how to become a better coach and become a successful head coach."

Find out more about the conference from some of the participants here: