It's Official!!!

Connecticut Women's Basketball Head Coach Geno Auriemma has been named the USA Basketball Women's Senior National (Olympic) Team Head Coach today by the USA Basketball Committee. His reign will serve through the 2012 London Olympic Games. Auriemma says he will continue coaching the Huskies while also taking over as coach of the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team.

With 24-year coaching veteran Auriemma at the helm, the U.S. will first look to capture the title at the 16th FIBA World Championship, scheduled to be played Sept. 23 – Oct. 3 in the Czech Republic, with an automatic berth to the 2012 Olympic Games being awarded to the gold medalist. Should the U.S. not finish with the gold medal in ‘10, it would have two additional chances to qualify for the Olympics: the 2011 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament (dates and site TBD); and 2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament (dates and site TBD). Auriemma, who currently owns an astounding 696-122 record for a stunning 85.1 winning percentage, heads up what many have termed the most successful basketball program of this decade, winning five of the nine NCAA crowns since 2000. At the helm of Connecticut since the 1985-86 season, his teams have captured a total of six NCAA titles (1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009) in 10 Final Four appearances and collected a combined 32 regular season and Big East Conference Tournament championships. He is also the first women’s coach to guide a team to five straight Final Fours (2000-04).

"I don’t know if I can adequately describe my feelings and my emotions when I was asked to do this and how I felt ever since," said Auriemma. "It’s an opportunity that if you’re very fortunate comes once in your life and I never thought I would ever have this opportunity. It’s just overwhelming, the emotions that run through you. What an incredible honor it is to be selected."

"There is no better coach in America than Geno Auriemma and we are delighted to be able to have a coach of his caliber lead our women’s national team program through the 2012 Olympic Games," said USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo. "The USA Basketball women’s national team has achieved tremendous success over the years and as winners of the last four Olympic gold medals, the expectations remain very high. Geno’s success at UConn, both his win-loss record and the development of his players, speaks for itself and makes him a perfect choice to take hold of the reins."

"It’s amazing for coach Auriemma," said former Husky and two-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi. "I know as a player this is a lifetime opportunity to play for the best coach in basketball. It’s a dream come true for me, I always knew I would be his player again. I’m very happy. Coach has the passion and smarts to be a successful coach. He knows how to make talented players into a dominate unit and challenges players in ways no one can."

"I think that his being the USA Women’s National Team coach is going to be interesting," said two-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings. "I know that he knows how to win and obviously he knows what he's looking for in his players and his team to perform as a group. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back and playing with the USA National Team."

NOTE: The press conference will be available by 3:00 pm on HuskyVision.