CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterian College has received a Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching grant from the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF).
PC is one of 12 grant recipients spanning eight sports plus strength and conditioning, reaching across all three NCAA divisions, 3C2A and the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.
Grants were awarded to institutions to support collegiate women coaches on the rise, assisting with living expenses, professional development and mentorship. The Blue Hose are among this year's grant recipients, which are designated for women coaching fellows in a wide variety of sports.
Women's basketball assistant coach Elyse Kiploks was named a VanDerveer fellow. Fellows participate in monthly connection and development sessions, engage with mentor coaches, and learn from inspirational guest speakers who are leaders in sport and beyond.
"We are proud to be a member of this year's class of the Women's Sports Foundation VanDerveer Fund recipients," said women's basketball head coach Tiffany Sardin. "We recognize the critical importance of closing the gender gap in the coaching ranks, and seeing more women in these influential roles helps inspire our women."
Kiploks is entering her third season on the women's basketball coaching staff. Under her direction, she helped guide Kishyah Anderson to Big South All-Conference Second Team honors and Paige Kindseth to an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection in 2024-25, while both also earned CSC Academic All-District recognition. In 2025-26, Aminata Tal earned a spot on the Big South All-Academic Team.
She joined Presbyterian's coaching staff after spending two seasons as the associate head women's basketball coach at Ferrum College. During her time at Ferrum, Kiploks coached Kayla Cabiness, an All-Conference player, who finished her career third on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,625 points.
Before beginning her coaching career, the Melbourne, Australia native played five seasons of professional basketball for teams in Australia, England, and Spain.
Since Title IX's passage, the representation of women in collegiate coaching roles has drastically declined. During the 1970-71 academic year, women served as head coaches for 90% of women's college teams. Fast forward to the 2024-25 academic year, women held only 41% of head coaching positions in women's NCAA sports. The disparity is even more pronounced among BIPOC women, who made up only 8% of head coaches in women's NCAA sports. In the same year, only 29% of all NCAA assistant coaches were women, with only 7% of all assistant coaches for men's and women's teams being BIPOC women.
Furthermore, WSF's research report, "Play to Lead: The Generational Impact of Sports on Women's Leadership," revealed that there are still barriers to sport participation, including a lack of women role models and access to quality coaches. The data shows the lack of representation in coaching positions throughout the country is evident, and WSF is taking steps to address it by expanding the pipeline for aspiring women coaches at the collegiate level through the Tara VanDerveer Fund.
Inspired by the trailblazing coach, the WSF Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching honors her legacy while investing in the future of collegiate sports. At the center of the program is the VanDerveer Fellow experience. Fellows participate in monthly connection and development sessions, engage with mentor coaches, and learn from inspirational guest speakers who are leaders in sport and beyond. The experience also includes a trip to New York City for WSF's Annual Salute to Women in Sports ® and related events. Together, these opportunities foster a strong, supportive community where Fellows learn from experts and each other, while applying new insights to their teams and careers.
"For more than 50 years, the Women's Sports Foundation has worked to expand opportunities for women to lead in sport, and coaching is a critical part of that work," said WSF CEO Danette Leighton. "Women coaches bring invaluable perspectives, leadership and lived experience to athletes and the broader sports ecosystem. Through the Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching, we are helping ensure more women have the opportunity to build careers and shape the future of sport. When young athletes see women coaching and leading, they see what is possible for themselves, and that is a legacy we are proud to continue building."
To learn more about the VanDerveer Fund and meet the 2026 grant recipients, please visit: WSF Tara VanDerveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching
About the Women's Sports Foundation
The Women's Sports Foundation (WSF) exists to enable girls and women to reach their potential in sport and life. We are an ally, an advocate, and a catalyst for tomorrow's leaders. Founded by Billie Jean King in 1974, we are one of the first organizations to recognize the powerful connection between sport access, equity, and society. For over 50 years, WSF has been changing the game through its research, advocacy, and community programming, investing over $115 million to help girls and women play, compete, and lead – in sports and beyond – without barriers. A leader and champion of the entire women's sports ecosystem, WSF amplifies the vital societal and cultural impact that is made when girls and women play sports. When girls play, they lead, and we all win! To learn more about the Women's Sports Foundation, please visit www.WomensSportsFoundation.org.
