Milwaukee City Wire

Jake Williams, the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Milwaukee men's basketball team, has been chosen to participate in the 2025 TopConnect Basketball Symposium. The event will be held at the Marriott Village at Lake Buena Vista on June 9.

TopConnect, developed by ETSU Athletic Director Dr. Richard Sander, aims to identify top assistant basketball coaches nationwide and connect them with mid-major Athletic Directors. This initiative provides networking and leadership development opportunities for both groups.

Now in its eighth year, TopConnect offers educational programming featuring a variety of successful leaders and speakers. The 2025 symposium will include a panel of prominent coaches and industry leaders.

Athletic Directors attending the event include Mark Benson from the University of Albany, Anthony Henderson from Hampton University, Mark Wharton from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Nico Yantko from Murray State University, and Jon Schemmel from the University of South Dakota.

Panel discussions will cover topics such as "The Hiring Process and Thereafter," "Perspective of First-Time Head Coaches," "NIL From Multiple Perspectives," and "House Settlement."

A popular feature returning this year is "Speed Dating," which facilitates rapid networking between assistant coaches and administrators.

The guiding principle of TopConnect is encapsulated in its mantra: "Connect. Prepare. Lead."

Since its inception in 2018, more than 50 participants have advanced to roles as Head Coach or Athletic Director, with some even becoming Conference Commissioners.

For inquiries about TopConnect, contact Dr. Richard Sander at sander@etsu.edu. The program collaborates with Connected Media, LLC and East Tennessee State University's Doctoral program in Global Sport Leadership.