UCM's Anderson to serve as court coach for USA Basketball

                The University of Central Missouri head coach Kim Anderson has been selected as a court coach for the 2007 USA Basketball Men's Pan American Games Team Trials, USA Basketball announced today. The coaching staff selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Collegiate Committee, chaired by USA Senior National Team assistant and Syracuse University head coach Jim Boeheim.
            He joins Fran O'Hanlon of Lafayette College (Pa.) and Steve Ridder of Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) on the court coach staff.
            USA Basketball will conduct trials for the 2007 USA Men's Pan Am Games Team July 12-14 at Haverford College (Pa.). Following trials, selected finalists for the USA Men's Pan Am Games Team will continue training July 15-18 at Haverford and July 19-21 at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. The official 12-member roster will be announced prior to the team's departure for the 2007 Pan American Games that are being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 13-29.
            Villanova University (Pa.) head coach Jay Wright, who most recently led the U.S. to gold at the 2005 World University Games, has been selected head coach of the 2007 USA Basketball Men's Pan American Games Team, while college head coaches Mark Gottfried of the University of Alabama and James Jones of Yale University (Conn.) were named assistant coaches.
            Including 16 athletes with prior USA Basketball experience, 30 of the nation's top collegiate basketball players have accepted invitations to participate in the USA Men's Pan American Games National Team Trials. The USA Basketball Men's Collegiate Committee also is charged with the player selections for the 2007 USA Pan American Games Trials and the official 12-member team as well.
            "I feel very honored to be selected to help with the USA Pan American games team during trials," Anderson said. "I am looking forward to working with coach Wright and his staff, as well as some of the top players in the country. This is a great opportunity for me to learn more about the game of basketball and especially the international game, and being a Division II coach, I appreciate the opportunity for someone from our level to work in this environment."
            Anderson led the Mules to a school-record 31-4 mark this season and helped his squad to the NCAA-II Final Four for only the second time in program history. He is the only coach in Central Missouri history to post at least 24 wins in three consecutive seasons.
            During the last three seasons, the Mules have recorded a 44-3 record at home, including a perfect 18-0 mark in 2006-07. UCM has won its last 23 games at home, dating back to January of 2006.
            For more information visit www.usabasketball.com