Krzyzewski to coach U.S. basketball team

Duke's Mike Krzyzewski was picked to coach the U.S. basketball team for the 2006 world championships and 2008 Beijing Olympics, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The Hall of Famer was chosen during a USA Basketball conference call last week, said the person, who did not wish to be identified because the announcement has not been made. Official word was supposed to come Oct. 29.

The American men are trying regroup after finishing sixth at the 2002 world championships in Indianapolis and third at the 2004 Olympics. The team at the Athens Games was without several top NBA players and was coached by Larry Brown.

Krzyzewski, who led Duke to three national championships, would be become the first college coach to run a U.S. men's basketball team at the worlds or Olympics since NBA players began playing in such competition in 1992.

Krzyzewski was an assistant on the U.S. Dream Team at the 1992 Barcelona Games that was coached by Chuck Daly.

The appointment was first reported by USA Today.

Duke spokesman Jon Jackson told the AP the school would not comment on the report. He said Krzyzewski is out of town and unavailable for comment until Friday, when the team holds is preseason media day.

The USA Basketball selection committee is led by Jerry Colangelo, chief executive officer of the Phoenix Suns.

U.S. Hall of Famers named

Bob Hayes, the only man to win an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring, Evelyn Ashford, 1980 hockey coach Herb Brooks and the 1984 U.S. men's gymnastics team highlight this year's class for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

Gymnast Shannon Miller, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, swimmer Rowdy Gaines and Jack Shea also were selected for the Hall. Paralympian Diana Golden-Brosnihan and NBC sports chief Dick Ebersol also will be inducted Dec. 8 in Chicago.

"This is an incredibly humbling experience for me and without a doubt the greatest award I've ever received," Gaines said Wednesday after the selections were announced during the U.S. Olympic Committee media summit. "To join some of the greatest athletes in history, I really can't put it into words. It really is amazing."

Gaines won three golds at the 1984 Games. He had appeared in Cape Girardeau in the spring of 1980 when Central Municipal Pool opened.

-- From staff, wire reports