CALGARY – University of Calgary Dinos women's basketball coach
Damian Jennings was appointed head coach of the Great Britain senior women's national team Monday and will lead the squad into this summer's EuroBasket tournament in France.
Involved with Great Britain basketball since 2006, Jennings worked with the Under-20 Women's program, the World University Games team and the Senior Women's national side. He joined the Dinos in the 2012-13 season, leading the team to a 19-3 regular season record, a first-place finish in Canada West, and the hosting rights for the conference Final Four. Last weekend in Regina, Jennings' Dinos wrapped up their season by finishing fourth in the CIS championship.
For his efforts, he was named the Canada West coach of the year in his inaugural season in CIS.
In 2010, Jennings led the British Under-20s to the European Division B title. The following year, the British team had their best-ever performance when they reached the quarter-finals of the European Championship Division A.
In the build up towards the 2012 London Olympic Games, Jennings was also part of former head coach Tom Maher's senior women's coaching team.
“Having been part of the coaching team since 2006, I'm honoured to have been given the chance to lead British basketball's women's program into EuroBasket 2013,” said Jennings. “We are ambitious and want to build a team capable of challenging for honours at the top of the international game.”
“We're so proud that Damian has been given this opportunity,” said Dinos athletic director
Ron Wuotila. “He is one of the most driven, hardworking coaches I have had the pleasure to work with and he fully deserves this chance.”
Jennings will depart in early April and will return to Calgary in July to prepare for the 2013-14 CIS season.
-UC-