Nine for IX digital feature Coach wins ‘Best Documentary Short’ at the Tribeca Film Festival

ESPN Films and espnW recently took top honors in the “Best Documentary Short” category at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival for the Nine for IX digital short Coach.

The film, directed by Bess Kargman and executive produced by Whoopi Goldberg, chronicles the career of C. Vivian Stringer, one of the most prolific coaches in the history of college basketball. She was the first coach to lead three different schools to the NCAA Final Four (Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Iowa and Rutgers) and received basketball’s highest honor in 2009: induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside Michael Jordan, John Stockton, Jerry Sloan and David Robinson.

Libby Geist, the Associate Director of Development for ESPN Films, said: “Coach’s ‘Best Documentary Short’ win at the Tribeca Film Festival is a really exciting kickoff to the Nine for IX series. This film series is important to ESPN, so we’re thrilled it’s already getting the attention it deserves.”

Nine for IX is a documentary series focused on captivating stories of women in sports told through the lens of female filmmakers. Film topics include an intimate look at Pat Summitt, college sports’ most successful coach ever, the largely unknown history of Katarina Witt and her link with East Germany’s secret police, and the focus of sex in the marketing of female athletes.

The series is scheduled to premiere on July 2 on ESPN and the films will air over consecutive Tuesday evenings at 8 p.m. ET. Coach will premiere on espnW.com this summer.