USA - McCallie to head USA women’s U21 team

COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA U21 World Championship for women) – Michigan State University head coach Joanne P. McCallie, who piloted the 2006 USA U20 National Team to a FIBA Americas U20 Championship gold medal and a berth in the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship, returns this summer to lead the 2007 USA Basketball Women’s U21 World Championship Team. McCallie’s selection was 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.

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 Champions 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 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-mid June for training camp at a site to be determined, during which time the final squad will be announced.

"I’m honored and proud, absolutely thrilled to be able to serve again for a second consecutive year," said McCallie. "I’m also very excited about the amazing experience we’ll have in Moscow in terms of the overall world competition and pursuing gold. From the little bit I can glean, Russia, obviously their program is phenomenal and since they’re hosting I’d have to say that they’re going to be tough. Australia is always strong, Brazil, there are so many good programs out there. I think it’s one of those things where you’ll have to expect the best from everybody.

"We had a most impressive and elite team last summer. That was a very special team in terms of their focus and ability to compete every minute of every game. I’m excited to be able to go back and coach that age group again this year. Without question, they were an elite and very special group of student-athletes."

"The Committee felt that Joanne P. McCallie did an excellent job with last summer’s team," said Donohoe. "They not only won the gold medal and qualified the United States for the 2007 U21 World Championship, but they came together in a short period of time as a team. This was a group of athletes who compete in different conferences and for different coaches who implement a variety of basketball styles in their programs.

"Serving as a USA Basketball coach is a great honor but, it is also a big commitment for the coaching staffs as they are asked to spend time at the team trials, training camp and the competition. We appreciate Joanne’s commitment to USA Basketball and her willingness to give of her time, knowledge and ‘love of the game’ with these outstanding young players."

In her first USA Basketball assignment, McCallie led the 2006 USA U20 Women's National Team to a 5-0 record as it demolished its FIBA Americas U20 Championship competition. The U.S. squad scored an average of 104.2 points per game while holding opponents to just 42.2 points to easily capture the gold medal in Mexico City, Mexico. More...

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