Big East to Represent USA in 2019 Pan American Games with Ed Cooley as Head Coach

Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman announced on Tuesday that the Big East has been selected to represent USA in the 2019 Pan American Games in a press conference held on Providence’s campus at the Ruane Friar Development Center. The team will be comprised of Big East players and the head coach will be Ed Cooley, hence the announcement taking place in Friartown.

The 2019 Pan American Games will take place July 27th through August 10th in Lima, Peru. The Games include a number of sports like archery, baseball, boxing, fencing, field hockey, softball, wrestling and many others. The USA basketball team will have a training camp at both the Ruane Friar Development Center and in Colorado Springs at the USA Basketball facility.

“USA Basketball felt it would be best to offer the college community the opportunity to participate in the men’s basketball competition at the 2019 Pan American Games given an already full USA men’s national team calendar,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO.  “USA Basketball worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee and the NCAA to identify the best option and NCAA Division I conferences were offered the opportunity to participate in the Pan American Games. Ultimately the BIG EAST Conference was selected and USA Basketball is confident that Coach Cooley and the BIG EAST team will represent the United States in a manner that will make all Americans proud.”

The Pan American Games first started in 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is designed to be held every 4 years in the year immediately prior to the Summer Olympics with participants from North, South and Central American and the Caribbean. The 2019 games will be the first time they have been held in Peru. It will also mark the first time 3×3 basketball is part of the Pan American Games because the Olympics is adding that brand of basketball to the 2020 Summer Olympics. Other notable recent head coaches of the USA squad are Mark Few (2015), Jay Wright (2007) and Tom Izzo (2003). Ed Cooley has experience with USA Basketball on Billy Donovan’s staff and then Sean Miller’s staff for U18 and U19 USA Basketball teams that have competed in FIBA events.

“I am very honored to be asked to coach this unique squad of BIG EAST players,” said Cooley.  “Any time you have the opportunity to represent your country, it is special.  I have the highest level of respect for USA Basketball and the BIG EAST as they are two organizations that have been so instrumental in my career development.”

Two former Friars have competed in the Pan American Games with Vin Ernst playing in 1963 and Joe Hassett in 1975. The USA won the gold medal in both of those games. St. John’s head coach Chris Mullin played in the 1983 Pan American Games alongside Michael Jordan and fellow Big East player Ed Pinckney of Villanova.

USA has struggled in recent Pan American Games with back-to-back bronze medal finishes in 2015 and 2011. The last time USA won gold was way back in 1983. The USA leads the all-time standings with 8 gold medals to go along with 3 silver and 3 bronze medals. Brazil is the next closest country with 6 gold medals, including winning in 2015.

LIVE – Press Conference announcing @BIGEASTMBB selection to represent @usabasketball on 2019 Pan American Games https://t.co/wvPHtuTkQX

— BIG EAST Conference (@BIGEAST) December 18, 2018

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Mike Hopkins

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