June 18, 2009

DEKALB, Ill.- NIU head women's basketball coach Carol Owens was elected Secretary of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Executive Committee the WBCA announced.

"I'm very excited about serving on the Executive Committee of the WBCA," Owens said. "I'm very anxious to get to work and serve our membership."

Owens, who is entering her fifth season at NIU, was named to the WBCA's Board of Directors last year and will serve a three-year term. Owens also sits on the Board of Directors of the Black Coaches Association. Arizona State's Charli Turner-Thorne was elected Vice President, while Connecticut head coach Gino Auriemma will serve as the WBCA President.

"I'm very pleased to have my peers join our Executive Committee and Board of Directors," Auriemma said. "Charli and Carol bring a vast amount of experience in the sport and will provide further insight for WBCA membership. With the additions and return of a fantastic group of coaches and administrators, the Board will continue to make strides in building the game of women's basketball on a national level."

Owens will lead USA Basketball's U19 Championship Team at the 2009 FIBA World Championship which will be held July 23-August 3 in Bangkok, Thailand. The 2008 USA Basketball Developmental Coach of the Year, Owens returns to USA Basketball for her fourth-straight year.

Last season, her first as head coach, she guided the Red, White and Blue to a perfect 5-0 mark en route to capturing the gold after beating host Argentina, 81-37, at the 2008 FIBA Americas U18 Championships. Owens was an assistant with USA Basketball under head coach Doug Bruno in 2006 and 2007. She helped lead the 2006 USA Basketball U18 National Team to a perfect 4-0 record and the gold medal at the 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship and a mark, and the gold in the 2007 U19 Championship for Women.

-NIU-