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Coach K Selected to Lead Men's National Team Back to Gold

Duke coach will lead Olympic team

Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has been named head coach of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program for 2006-2008 and will coach the U.S. team in the 2008 Olympic Games in China, national team program Managing Director Jerry Colangelo announced Wednesday.

" Mike Krzyzewski is the right man at the right time," Colangelo said at a press conference. "His professional record speaks for itself. His loyalty and commitment to his country is more than self-evident and his success as a leader of men is also a part of who he is."

With Krzyzewski at the helm, the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team will compete in the 2006 FIBA World Championship (Aug. 19-Sept. 3 in Saitama, Japan); if necessary, the 2007 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament (dates and site TBD); and, if the U.S. qualifies, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games (Aug. 8-24 in Beijing, China).

"For me, this is the ultimate honor in coaching," Krzyzewski said. "It is a chance to represent the United States at this elite level of basketball. I am honored to be chosen and look forward to the opportunity to develop this team that will represent our great country in its own sport, both on and off the court."

Krzyzewski, who will turn 59 years old on Feb. 13, becomes the first collegiate coach to mentor a USA Senior National Team since USA Basketball began utilizing professional players in 1992.

"Our senior men's program will be tremendously served by Mike's extraordinary capabilities and stature and his superb leadership both on and off the court," said USA Basketball President Val Ackerman. "We are very proud to unite the best of professional and college basketball as we look to reclaim our dominance in both World Championship and Olympic competition."

Peter Ueberroth, chairman of the board of the U.S. Olympic Committee, called Coach K "an outstanding choice."

"Mike understands that success is achieved only through an unwavering commitment to excellence, and he recognizes the honor and responsibility that come with representing our nation in the international arena. We applaud USA Basketball for its leadership in making this appointment," Ueberroth said.

Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, Coach K has averaged more than 25 wins a season during his 25-year (1980-81 through 2004-05) career at Duke, and posted eight 30-win seasons, the most by any coach in college basketball history.

Under Krzyzewski, Duke has captured three national championships (1991, 1992 and 2001). He has directed teams to 10 Final Fours, the third-most by any coach in NCAA history.

Entering the 2005-06 season, Krzyzewski owns a 721-246 career record (a 74.5 winning percentage) in his 30 years of collegiate coaching. In 25 seasons at Duke, he has a record of 648-187 (77.6 winning percentage).