USA - Team USA coaching team prolongs stay

COLORADO SPRINGS (2008 Olympics Games) - The 2006 USA Women's World Championship Team assistant coaches will remain in post until the 2008 Beijing Olympics, provided they qualify.

WNBA head coach Mike Thibault of the Connecticut Sun and collegiate head coaches Gail Goestenkors of Duke University and Temple University's Dawn Staley will assist USA head coach Anne Donovan (Seattle Storm).

The 2007-08 USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team is looking to qualify for the 2008 Olympics and defend the USA's streak of three Olympic gold medals.

The USA's next chance to qualify for the 2008 Olympics will be at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship next September in Chile.

The gold medalist at that tournament will earn a ticket to Beijing.

"The committee felt strongly that the USA Senior National Team would benefit from keeping this coaching staff together for the next two years," said committee chair Renee Brown, WNBA chief of basketball operations and player relations.

"Mike, Gail and Dawn worked hand-in-hand with Anne and the team, and the players truly believed in the staff and highly respect their knowledge of the game."

Donovan said: "Mike, Gail and Dawn bring so much experience and I have a tremendous amount of respect for each of them and the knowledge that they bring to our USA senior national team."

Tom Ross
FIBA