I don't understand the suggestion that Muffet McGraw might be a candidate for the job. As far as I know, Muffet has never coached for USA Basketball, including as an asst coach at any level. I'm sure that was her choice and it probably had a lot to do with devoting time off to her family. That's fine. But I can not see USA Basketball handing head coaching duties for its Sr National Team to a college coach who has never coached in an international competition and never coached professional players. Maybe there's precedent for USA Basketball hiring a collegiate coach without any international experience, but I just don't see it doing that now particularly with so little time before the 2014 World Championships. (Geno was head coach of the U19 team and was an asst coach on Nell Fortner's Olympic staff.)
Mel Greenberg wrote about the upcoming choice in his blog a couple of weeks ago. He speculates that USA Basketball may have been hoping that Geno would change his mind. With that not happening, Mel lists Doug Bruno, Dawn Staley and Sherri Coale as the top collegiate candidates (he says Mulkey isn't interested and although he mentions Muffet's name he says nothing more about her).
Mel lists a number of WNBA coaches including Mike T, Cheryl Reeve, Agler, Dan Hughes, Laimbeer, Ross and Donovan. From Mel's blog:
Olympic Coach Search
Though the urgent stage has yet to get close to hitting USA Basketball, things are moving along in terms of time soon becoming in play for the Americans to name, at worst, coach for the 2014 FIBA World Championship, which usually would also mean coach for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, unless it is going to be a two-part process.
It seems UConn's Geno Auriemma might have finally c0nvinced those hoping for a reversal that once was great and wonderful but it also was enough winning the gold in London last summer.
Though not everyone meets all criteria usually called for there seems to be a short list in terms of speculation.
In the collegiate world, there seems to be three names mentioned prominently:
1. Doug Bruno, the DePaul coach who was on Auriemma's staff and who also coached many players moving up the ladder when he had the U-19 and -18 teams.
2. (this is not ranking specific) Dawn Staley, the South Carolina coach and Olympic playing legend who was also on an aide on Anne Donovan's Gold medal-winning team in Beijing. China, and many thought was in the loop for next at that time and remains a sentimental choice in various sectors of followers around her throughout her career.
3. Sherri Coale, the Oklahoma coach who has drawn lots of praise in various sectors recently and perhaps the honchos are waiting to see how she guides the World University Games through the upcoming competition.
Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw and Baylor's Kim Mulkey get mentioned in places but Mulkey has professed to not being all that interested given the time she wants to spend with her family in the summer though we will soon be on a two-year track rather than the four-year run from the time Auriemma was named for the past quad period.
In the pros:
1. (also not ranking specific) Mike Thibault, Washington, was on Donovan's staff and has a much WNBA player respect as do all the names mentioned in this category.
2. Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx, had she repeated as WNBA champs last year, she might be on board though she has no USA coaching experience. The honchos could name her at least for the FIBA games and if it doesn't go well and they have time for a quick do-over.
3. Brian Agler, Seattle Storm, says he's not been approached, but his past success, especially dealing with a multitude of injuries, aka Lauren Jackson, to keep his team compeetitive.
4. Dan Hughes, San Antonio Silver Stars, is on the players selection committee, but they could end up in his corner of none of their other choices come through.
5. Bill Laimbeer, New York Liberty, by his own admission says the players wouldn't have trouble dealing with him -- the brass, that's another matter.
6. Carol Ross, Los Angeles Sparks, a longshot but it wouldn't be surprising to see her picked to at least be on the staff of the next regime.
7. Anne Donvan, Connecticut Sun, is your wild card. Like Auriemma, she believes once is enough, given the pressure to keep the string going and all that jazz.
She's not campaigning for it, she's not looking for the honchos to come begging at the door in desparation, but, unlike Auriemma, she will privately acknowledge if the door knocks or the phone rings, you don't dismiss the honchos out of hand and have to listen to what they have to say.
