University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Basketball
Whitbeck, Jan
Jan Whitbeck
- Title:
- Chief of Staff
- Email:
- jwhitbec@umn.edu
Jan Whitbeck became the Chief of Staff on April 14, 2025, having spent the past two seasons as the Gophers Director of Strategic Operations and the 2022-23 season as the Director of Basketball Operations.
Prior to Minnesota Whitbeck most recently worked with WeCOACH as the Senior Director of Events and Branding from 2019-2022 while also serving as the Interim CEO from December of 2021 to March of 2022. While at WeCOACH, a one-of-a-kind non-profit dedicated to recruiting, advancing and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels. She oversaw and executed events that included the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, the High School Women Coaches Leadership Academy and BreakThrough Summit, all of which helped develop women coaches throughout the country.
Prior to her work with WeCOACH Whitbeck served as the Director of Events with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association from 2017-19. At the 'U' she planned events such as the Alumni Awards Affair, Distinguished Teaching Awards, Ski-U-Mania and postseason athletic alumni events. She worked extensively with the Big Ten Conference where she planned and executed the B1G Alumni Professionals Conference, a two-day share and learn event attended by 60 alumni professionals from all 14 Big Ten institutions.
Whitbeck completed her Master of Arts in Physical Education from the University of Northern Colorado with a concentration in Sport Administration while also completing a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology from Western State Colorado University.
After college Whitbeck enjoyed a three-year basketball coaching career where she made stops at Western State Colorado University and Regis University. At Regis she also served as the Athletic Event Coordinator.
Outside of her professional life Whitbeck has also volunteered at a number of events. She worked as Media Liaison at the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo., while also volunteering as a Practice Coordinator for the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo.
Prior to Minnesota Whitbeck most recently worked with WeCOACH as the Senior Director of Events and Branding from 2019-2022 while also serving as the Interim CEO from December of 2021 to March of 2022. While at WeCOACH, a one-of-a-kind non-profit dedicated to recruiting, advancing and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels. She oversaw and executed events that included the NCAA Women Coaches Academy, the High School Women Coaches Leadership Academy and BreakThrough Summit, all of which helped develop women coaches throughout the country.
Prior to her work with WeCOACH Whitbeck served as the Director of Events with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association from 2017-19. At the 'U' she planned events such as the Alumni Awards Affair, Distinguished Teaching Awards, Ski-U-Mania and postseason athletic alumni events. She worked extensively with the Big Ten Conference where she planned and executed the B1G Alumni Professionals Conference, a two-day share and learn event attended by 60 alumni professionals from all 14 Big Ten institutions.
Whitbeck completed her Master of Arts in Physical Education from the University of Northern Colorado with a concentration in Sport Administration while also completing a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology from Western State Colorado University.
After college Whitbeck enjoyed a three-year basketball coaching career where she made stops at Western State Colorado University and Regis University. At Regis she also served as the Athletic Event Coordinator.
Outside of her professional life Whitbeck has also volunteered at a number of events. She worked as Media Liaison at the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo., while also volunteering as a Practice Coordinator for the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo.
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