From IUP Athletics:
INDIANA, Pa. – Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) head women’s basketball coach Tom McConnell has been added to the staff of the 2021 USA Women’s U16 National Team as an assistant coach.
Coach McConnell joins a staff that includes newly named head coach Sue Phillips (Archbishop Mitty/San Jose Cagers) and assistant coach Sophia Witherspoon (Fort Pierce Central H.S., Fla.).
“The committee has selected an experienced coach with Sue, and Tom brings his own successes,” said Carol Callan, chair of the USA Basketball Women’s Developmental National Team committee, which is responsible for selecting the USA coaches and athletes, and the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Director. “We are confident they and Sophia not only will work well together, they also will be able to inspire this group of young athletes during trials, training camp and the competition.”
The USA team will compete at the 2021 FIBA Americas U16 Championship this August. The top four finishing teams will qualify for the 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup. The eight teams taking part this summer include: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, El Salvador, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States.
“It’s just an amazing opportunity to be able to work with some of our country’s finest coaches and most outstanding players, what an honor,” McConnell said. “My thought is, like they always say, this is a dream come true, but this is so amazing that I think this is something that I could never even have dreamed of. It’s just a blessing. I feel honored to be considered, and it’s a privilege. I’m really looking forward to serving coach Phillips and our players and helping them make this one of the most meaningful experiences of their life.”
In seven seasons in Indiana, McConnell has entrenched himself as the best coach in program history and one of the best leaders in Division II women’s basketball. Since taking over in 2013-14, he boasts an overall record of 176-41 (.811) with four PSAC Western Division regular season championships, two PSAC tournament titles (2017, 2019) and led the Crimson Hawks to back-to-back Atlantic Region crowns and Elite Eight national semifinal berths in 2018 and 2019. McConnell has been named the PSAC West Coach of the Year three straight times (2018, 2019, 2020), a conference record.
While the 2020-21 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McConnell led his 2019-20 squad to a 28-3 record, PSAC West regular season title, and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division II tournament.
More from USA Basketball’s release
Players eligible for the 2021 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team must be U.S. citizens born on or after Jan. 1, 2005.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, trials for the 2021 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team are expected to feature approximately 20 athletes invited by the USA Basketball Women’s Developmental National Team Committee and 10 athletes who applied to attend. The application process is closed, and the trials roster is still to be announced.
Due to safety precautions, media will not be permitted to attend trials. USA Basketball will provide media with photos and b-roll to assist in coverage of the trials.
In addition to Callan, the USA Basketball Developmental National Team Committee includes: athlete representatives Tamika Catchings and DeLisha Milton-Jones; AAU appointee Kevin Lynch; NFHS appointee Jill Schneider; and at-large representatives Kirsten Moore and Mia Smith.
A biennial event launched in 2009 and open to athletes 16 years old or younger, the FIBA Americas U16 Championship features eight national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. The USA Basketball women claimed the gold medal in 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 and 2019 and the bronze medal in 2015 and are 30-1 in FIBA Americas U16 Championship action.
About USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and chaired by retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA national teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored five-on-five, 3×3 and esport international competitions, as well as for some national competitions and for the development of youth basketball initiative that address player development, coach education and safety, while promoting, growing and elevating the game.
More statements from Coach McConnell
On this opportunity from USA Basketball:
It’s just an amazing opportunity to be able to work with some of our country’s finest coaches and most outstanding players, what an honor. My thought is, like they always say, this is a dream come true, but this is so amazing that I think this is something that I could never even have dreamed of. It’s just a blessing. I feel honored to be considered, and it’s a privilege. I’m really looking forward to serving coach Phillips and our players and helping them make this one of the most meaningful experiences of their life.
His feelings on the selection:
It is a special feeling to be part of USA Basketball and I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to coach some of the best players and work alongside some of the best coaches in our country on the world stage. I am thankful and look forward to serving Coach Sue Phillips and hope to make it a memorable experience for our players.
This opportunity would not have come my way without the joyous experience of the last eight years. I have coached amazing players and worked with some great coaches at IUP, which is truly a great place to work and teach.
I am looking forward to Indianapolis and beginning the process of working with our players and coaches.
On what this selection means for the IUP women’s basketball program:
This selection shows that IUP is recognized throughout the country as an outstanding program. My hope is that the added exposure of me being part of USA Basketball opens doors for more potential student-athletes who want to be part of the IUP women’s basketball program. I also hope that our current and former players are proud knowing that they played a huge part in affording me this great opportunity.
On what this selection means for him as a coach:
I always talk to our players about growing and challenging yourself every day, so this is an example of that and the perfect opportunity for me to do exactly that. Any time that you have a chance to be around outstanding coaches and players like this is a great time to learn and grow in your craft.
