Tomjanovich To Coach U.S. Squad

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

February 18, 1999 / 6:58 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Houston Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich was selected Thursday to guide the United States men's basketball team at this summer's Americas Olympic qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Tomjanovich, who led a band of CBA and collegiate players to a bronze medal at last year's World Championship, also is expected to coach the United States at the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. He led the Houston Rockets to NBA championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95.

Tomjanovich was given a chance to win a gold medal last summer in Athens, Greece, but the NBA's lockout left him with an unheralded squad. The team went 7-2 and settled for a bronze medal after a semifinal loss to Russia.

"There were obviously a number of qualified candidates," USA Basketball president Russ Granik said. "But based on Rudy's contributions to last summer's World Championship team, the committee felt he was most deserving to coach this team in its pursuit of an Olympic gold medal."

The top two finishers at the 10-team qualifying tournament will earn spots for the Summer Games. Ten countries from North, Central and South America will participate in the Americas event July 14-25, just 15 days after the last possible day of the NBA Finals.

The United States and Canada -- based on performances in last year's World Championships -- and Puerto Rico, as the host country, already have qualified for the Americas tournament. Four countries from South America and three from Central America will join the field after preliminary qualifying events.

Tomjanovich is 327-207 in parts of seven seasons with the Rockets and has guided the team to six consecutive playoff appearances.

The 50-year-old was a five-time NBA All-Star and the second pick in the 1970 draft. His No. 45 jersey was retired by Houston on Jan. 28, 1982.