Dallas, TX

Multi-titled coach Mike Krzyzewski has announced that he will step down as mentor of the USA Men's Basketball Team after the 2012 London Olympics.

Krzyzewski, who led the Duke University Blue Devils to four NCAA national championships in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, guided the "Redeem Team" that won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics after a bronze-medal finish four years earlier in Athens, Greece.

Led by NBA players, Krzyzewski has won two more gold medals for Team USA in the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

After the United States suffered an embarrassing third-place finish in Greece, Krzyzewski and USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo have joined forces to establish a system of pooling players for international events.

In 2008, Team USA has regained lost glory by winning the gold medal in Beijing. Led by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, scored eight easy victories for the ultimate prize.

The other members of that team were Jason Kidd, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Deron Williams and Michael Redd.

Meanwhile, Team USA has been granted an extension by the United States Olympic Committee until July 7 to finalize its roster for the 2012 Games.

"We felt that it would be in the best interest of our selection process to give ourselves more time to finalize the USA roster," Colangelo told usabasketball.com.

"I want to personally thank USOC CEO Scott Blackman for his understanding and assistance with securing the extension," he added.

Colangelo sought for extension after four of the team's finalists -- Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups and LaMarcus Aldridge -- went down with injuries.

Also, Colangelo wanted the NBA season to end before coming out with final line-up because 10 finalists are still playing in the playoffs.

Aside from the four injured players, finalists for the 2012 USA National Team include Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Bryant, Tyson Chandler, Anthony Davis of University of Kentucky, Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala, James, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom, Chris Paul, Wade, Russell Westbrook and Deron Williams.

Mike Krzyzewski on his future with Team USA

 

 

Coach K to Step Down as Team USA Coach After London Games