“I am so grateful to Texas A&M and the SEC for the opportunity to participate in the SEC Coaches Opportunity Forum,” O’Mara said. “I was able to network with coaches from all sports in the SEC and meet some truly incredible people. I also heard speakers like Nick Saban, Greg Sankey, Dawn Staley and Dennis Gates. They all had great stories to share and advice for assistant coaches who dream of becoming head coaches one day. The SEC is committed to preparing coaches for their future and that was evident at the forum. I am very grateful to be part of a conference that gives back to its coaches in this way.”
The goal of the forum was to provide coaches with the knowledge and skills needed to become head coaches in their respective sports. The two-day event featured a comprehensive series of panels and sessions designed to provide guidance on navigating the coaching landscape. Assistant coaches were selected by their respective schools to participate.
O’Mara enters her eighth season with the Texas A&M staff and her third as associate head coach. During her time in Aggieland, she has trained 13 National Collegiate Equestrian Association All-Americans and 16 All-SEC honorees. In 2024, O’Mara was named the NCEA Jumping Seat Coach of the Year after leading the Aggies to a 10-4 record in steeplechase jumping and a 7-5-2 record in flat jumping.
Attendees received valuable insights from invited speakers, including:
- Nick Saban, ESPN analyst and former head coach
- Dawn Staley, head coach of the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team
- Dennis Gates, head coach of the men’s basketball team at the University of Missouri
- Josh Brooks, University of Georgia J. Reid Parker Athletic Director
- Greg Byrne, athletic director of the University of Alabama
- Elle Duncan, anchor at ESPN SportsCenter
- Greg Sankey, SEC Commissioner
- Parker Executive Search Team
Participants at the 2024 SEC Coaches Opportunity Forum included:
- Amelia Hundley, University of Alabama, Gymnastics
- Pauline Love, University of Alabama, women’s basketball
- Sammy Scofield, University of Arkansas, soccer
- Ira Bowman, Auburn University, men’s basketball
- Damitria Buchanan, Auburn University, women’s basketball
- Jabbar Juluke, University of Florida, Football
- Antonio Reynolds Dean, University of Georgia, Men’s Basketball
- Isoken Uzamere, University of Georgia, women’s basketball
- Blair Bergmann, University of Kentucky, STUNT
- Debbie Ferguson McKenzie, University of Kentucky, Athletics
- Tamara Ards, Louisiana State University, Athletics
- Bree Bennett, University of Mississippi, Athletics
- Dempsey McGuigan, University of Mississippi, Athletics
- April Thomas, Mississippi State University, Athletics
- Anthony Tucker, Mississippi State University, football
- Rob Summers, University of Missouri, men’s basketball
- Arielle Wilson, University of Missouri, volleyball
- Austin Davis, University of Oklahoma, Athletics
- Ryan Humphrey, University of Oklahoma, men’s basketball
- Winston Gandy, University of South Carolina, women’s basketball
- Eddie Shannon, University of South Carolina, men’s basketball
- Clayton White, University of South Carolina, Football
- Justin Gainey, University of Tennessee, men’s basketball
- Roman Tubner, University of Tennessee, women’s basketball
- Mitch Dalton, University of Texas, women’s swimming and diving
- Abby O’MaraTexas A&M University, Equestrian
- Alex Bailey, Vanderbilt University, football
- Jill Kendall, Vanderbilt University, lacrosse
