COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Selecting an experienced trio of collegiate and high school coaches, USA Basketball today announced Mark Campbell, Union University, has been selected as head coach of the 2019 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team, with USA assistant coaches Kelly Carruthers, James Bowie H.S., Texas and Ruth Sinn, University of St. Thomas, Minnesota.
According to a press release, this is Campbell and Sinn’s first coaching stint with USA Basketball, while Carruthers previously served as a court coach for the 2015 USA Women’s U16 National Team trials.
Chaired by USA Basketball Women’s National Team director Carol Callan, the USA Basketball Women’s Developmental National Team Committee is responsible for selecting the U.S. coaching staff, which is approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.
“This trio of coaches has compiled impressive records of success at their schools, and our committee is delighted to have them take the reins of the U16 national team program,” Callan said. “Proven winners, teachers and eager representatives of our country, this staff is the right group of coaches to go to Chile to compete in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship and earn a spot in next year’s FIBA U17 World Cup.”
Trials to select the 12-member USA U16 National Team will be held May 23-27 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Following the trials, team finalists will remain for training camp through May 31, when the official 12-member roster is expected to be announced. Training camp will be held June 5-15, with the 2019 U16 FIBA Americas Championship competition running June 16-22 in Puerto Aysen, Chile.
Athletes eligible for this team must be U.S. citizens born on or after Jan. 1, 2003.
Campbell recently completed his 20th season (1999-00 to present) as Union University head coach after serving as the men’s graduate assistant during the 1993-94 season and the men’s assistant coach from 1996-97 to 1998-99. He has compiled an overall record of 613-94 (.867 winning percentage) in his time as head coach.
“No question, it’s a big surprise for me and a big honor,” Campbell said. “I’m honored to represent our country and to be able to do something I’ve never done before. I love teaching, I love making an impact in young people’s lives and I can’t think of a better place to do it on a national scale than to do it through USA Basketball.”
Under Campbell, the Bulldogs have finished third or better in national tournaments 12 times, including 10 straight from 2005-14. He has guided Union to first place finishes in the NAIA in 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2010, including a National Christian College Athletic Association title in 2014. He also has second-place finishes in the 2011 and 2012 NAIA, third-place finishes at the 2002, 2007 and 2008 NAIA, 2013 NCCAA National Tournament and 2018 NCAA DII National Tournament.
In 2018-19, the Bulldogs finished 27-4 overall and 18-2 in the Gulf South Conference (GSC), advancing to the NCAA DII region quarterfinals as a No. 2 seed. It was the fifth GSC regular season title for Union, and its fourth trip to the NCAA DII National Tournament.
“One of the great things about USA Basketball is that you get to work with other coaches, bring new ideas and all be on the same page with a similar mission,” Campbell said. “I’m looking forward to working with a group of talented people.”
(PHOTO: Mark Campbell, center – courtesy Union University Sports Communication)
David Thomas, Twitter – @DavidThomasWNWS
https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalk1015/
