University of Georgia Athletics
Taylor Helps U.S. U19 Team Bring Home Gold
August 16, 2021 | Women's Basketball
ATHENS ---- The USA Women's U19 basketball team — for which Georgia Lady Bulldogs head coach Joni Taylor served as an assistant coach — claimed a gold medal at the World Cup tournament in Debrecen, Hungary, on Sunday night.
The Americans defeated Australia 70-52 in the gold medal game, completing a perfect 7-0 run through the 16-team tournament. So dominant was the U.S. team that its 18-point margin of victory Sunday was the closest among the seven contests it played.
Taylor and South Dakota State head coach Aaron Johnston were named assistant coaches, while UCLA's Cori Close was named head coach for the World Cup Team. The appointments were made by USA Basketball Women's Junior National Selection Committee.
For Taylor, it marked her second experience working for the USA Basketball organization. She served as a court coach for the 2018 USA U18 National Team Trials.
''Having the opportunity to be an assistant coach for USA Basketball's Junior National Team is something that I will cherish forever,'' Taylor said. ''I have grown so much as a person and a coach in the short amount of time I spent with this amazing group of elite coaches and players.
''Representing your country on the world stage is something that I don't take lightly and am very humbled by. I'm grateful to (U.S. Women's National Team Director) Carol Callan and the USA Basketball organization for giving me this unforgettable experience.''
In addition to earning SEC Coach of the Year honors this past season, Taylor was one of four finalists for the Werner Ladder Naismith National Coach of the Year Award. She Led Georgia to a 21-7 record that included its first trip to the SEC tournament finals since 2004 and its highest NCAA tournament seeding since 2007.
In six seasons leading Georgia, Taylor has mentored four WNBA Draft picks and six All-SEC honorees. She has compiled a 119-65 record.
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