USA - Dixon and Thorne to serve as team assistant coaches

COLORADO SPRINGS (U21 women national team) - A pair of talented collegiate head coaches, Furman University’s (S.C.) Sam Dixon and Arizona State University’s Charli Turner Thorne, have been selected to act as assistant coaches to Duke University head coach Joanne P. McCallie and the 2007 USA Women’s U21 World Championship Team, USA Basketball today announced. The coaching staff selections were made by the USA Basketball Women’s Collegiate Committee, which is chaired by Sue Donohoe, the NCAA’s vice president of Division I women’s basketball, and approved by the USA Basketball Executive Committee.
"I am so excited to have Sam return as a very valuable member of our staff," said McCallie. "His energy, work ethic, scouting prowess and ability to communicate effectively with the student-athletes is very impressive. He is a lot of fun to work with.

"I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Charli to this staff. There is no question in my mind she’s going to make a huge impact by sharing her knowledge, her ability to communicate with student-athletes, as well as her energy, enthusiasm and passion for the game."

"It’s a great honor and a pleasurable opportunity to have a chance to work with USA Basketball again," said Dixon, who returns to the red, white and blue after aiding the 2006 USA U20 National Team to a gold medal and a berth in the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship. "It was a tremendous experience last year and I’m really excited about it again. Working with coach McCallie and coach Turner Thorne will be an incredible experience. Coach McCallie was tremendous last year in working with the players and I learned so much. I’m really excited to learn from coach Turner Thorne. She’s created a tremendous program at Arizona State. I’m excited about the opportunity to work with everybody, especially the players again, it’s really helped my coaching and my team as we grow and develop here at Furman."

"I am very honored to be appointed to this position," said Turner Thorne, who joins her first USA Basketball coaching staff with the USA U21 National Team. "I am really excited and feel like it’s an excellent opportunity for Arizona State and me professionally. I love the coaching staff. I admire Joanne and am looking forward to the opportunity to work with her. I know Sam, who was a coach in our conference a few years ago, and I got to know him pretty well there and I like him a lot. He’s not only a good coach, but a great person.

"I’ll bring whatever is needed to help this team win the gold. After 14 years as a head coach I think I can bring the ability, either offensively or defensively, to help with the position work, scouting and team and individual motivation and development. Our program’s been known for defense, but our team was also among the nation’s best in assists and scoring this season, so as an assistant coach I’m just going to wait to be told what to do."

The 2007 FIBA U21 Championship, scheduled to be contested June 29-July 8 in Moscow, Russia, will feature 12 nations competing for the gold medal. In addition to host Russia and the United States, countries vying for the title of U21 World Champion will be Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Hungary, Japan, Mali and Spain. The draw to determine the two six-nation preliminary round pools was held Feb. 9, and the USA was placed in Group B with Australia, Brazil, Hungary, Japan and Spain; while Group A consists of Belgium, Canada, China, France, Mali and host Russia.

The U.S. opens play against Australia on June 29, followed by games against Brazil on June 30 and Hungary on July 1. Following a day off, the U.S. will meet Spain on July 3 and close preliminary round play against Japan on July 4. The top four teams from each preliminary round group will advance to the July 6 quarterfinals, the semifinals will be contested on July 7 and the gold medal clash will be held on July 8.

Trials to select finalists for the eventual 12-member USA U21 squad will be held May 17-20 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Approximately 35 athletes age 21-years-old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 1986) will receive invitations to attend the 2007 USA Basketball U21 National Team Trials following the USA Women’s Collegiate Committee meeting at the NCAA Final Four. USA U21 National Team finalists will be selected after the USA Team Trials and will return in early-to-mid June for training camp at a site to be determined. The final squad will be announced prior to the team’s departure from the United States to Europe. More...

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