March 25, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. - Penn State Lady Lion head coach Coquese Washington was selected to the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee as announced by USA Basketball today. Washington's term will run from 2009-12.
"I am very excited and honored to join the Junior National Team Selection Committee," Washington said. "USA Basketball is a great way to bring some of the best players in the country together and I am really looking forward to my role in this process."
Joining Washington on the 2009-2012 Women's Junior National Team Committee are NCAA Vice President for Division I Women's Basketball Sue Donohoe, California head coach Joanne Boyle, Nebraska head coach Connie Yori and Virginia Commonwealth head coach Beth Cunningham.
The Men's and Women's Junior National Team committees will select coaches and athletes for USA Basketball college-aged competitions, which include the 2009 and 2011 FIBA U19 World Championships; the 2010 and 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championships; the 2009 and 2011 World University Games; and the 2011 Pan American Games. The four NCAA members on both committees represent different geographic regions of the country.
Washington is in her second season as the head coach of the Lady Lions and owns a 24-36 record. The Lady Lions were 11-18 overall and 6-12 in Big Ten play, which placed them in a tie for seventh place, this season. During Washington's tenure, the Lady Lions have had five All-Big Ten selections, including a first team All-Big Ten nod for Tyra Grant (Youngstown, Ohio) this year. Washington is also a member of the WBCA Board of Directors.
Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.
USA Basketball is an organization made up of organizations. There are five member categories: professional, collegiate, scholastic, youth and associate. Professional members include: Continental Basketball Association, National Basketball Association, National Basketball Association Development League and the Women's National Basketball Association. Collegiate members include: National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, National Collegiate Athletic Association and the National Junior College Athletic Association. USA Basketball's scholastic members are the National Federation of High Schools, and the Youth member is the Amateur Athletic Union. Featured in the Associate members are: Athletes In Action, Basketball Travelers, College Commissioners Association, Harlem Globetrotters, International Sports Exchange, Latin America League of Los Angeles, National Amateur Basketball Association, National Association of Basketball Coaches, National Basketball Coaches Association, National Basketball Players Association, National Junior College Basketball Coach Association, National Junior College Women's Coach Association, National Pro-Am City Leagues Association, National Wheelchair Basketball Association, Sport Tours International, USA Deaf Sports Federation, United States Armed Forces and Women's Basketball Coaches Association.