COOKEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tennessee Tech senior guard Tacarra Hayes has been selected as one of only 50 participants nationwide to attend the “So You Want to be a Coach Program” at the NCAA Final Four in Denver.

“I’m really excited about attending this event,” Hayes said. “I’ve always wanted to move on to coaching and this will definitely help me get there.”

“This will be a great opportunity for Tacarra to get some hands on experience,” Tennessee Tech head coach Sytia Messer said. “This is such a beneficial program and it will give Tacarra the opportunity to explore her future coaching options.”

The mission of the WBCA's "So You Want To Be A Coach" program is to assist female collegiate basketball players who are interested in pursuing a career in coaching women's basketball. It focuses on professional development and career advancement through education, skills enhancement, networking and exposure opportunities while increasing awareness regarding the availability of talented female basketball players who want to coach.

After a distinguished four-year career at TTU that saw Hayes rewrite the record books, she is now looking to her future where coaching figures to be a prominent fixture.

“The thing I’m looking forward to is all the behind-the-scenes,” Hayes said. “I hope to get a good feel for recruiting and to learn everything I can while I’m there.”

The three-day program will feature a wide range of sessions including interview preparation, work/life balance, youth clinics, recruiting and on the court demonstrations.

Hayes finished her career ninth in scoring with 1,786 points at TTU, and is one of just two players in Tech history to finish in the Top 11 in points, rebounds, assists and steals.