COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Drake women's basketball head coach Jennie Baranczyk will serve as a court coach for the 2017 USA Basketball Women's U19 World Cup Team trials next month, USA Basketball announced Thursday morning, April 27.
 
"It is an incredible opportunity and dream come true to be a part of USA Basketball," said Baranczyk. "You grow up watching the players and the coaches from the USA compete for a gold medal. It doesn't matter the capacity just the opportunity to be involved, you give everything you have to help maximize basketball's potential around the country. It will be a great chance to represent Drake and Des Moines at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs."
 
Baranczyk and Georgetown head coach Natasha Adair will assist the 2017 USA Basketball Women's U19 World Cup Team coaching staff of head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio (Pittsburgh) and assistant coaches Kamie Ethridge (Northern Colorado) and Charlotte Smith (Elon) during team trials, which will take place May 18-21 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The court coach selections were made by the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee.
 
"We are excited about Natasha and Jennie joining the U19 World Cup staff in Colorado Springs to assist with training camp," said USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee chairman Jennifer Rizzotti. "Both have made significant impacts in their respective programs by bringing their teams to consecutive postseason tournaments. Equally important, they have both developed multiple all-conference players in their respective conferences. These young athletes will benefit from their knowledge and passion for the game as they aim for the seventh consecutive gold medal in our U19 age group this summer."
 
Six-time defending U19 gold medalists, the United States will look to make it seven gold medals in a row at the July 22-30 event in Cividale del Friuli and Udine, Italy. Athletes eligible for this team must be 19 years old or younger (born on or after Jan. 1, 1998) and U.S. citizens.
 
In her fifth season, Baranczyk guided Drake to the 2017 NCAA Tournament behind a MVC Tournament title and an outright MVC regular season championship. The Bulldogs went 28-5 record (single-season win total tied a program record) and had a program-record and MVC-record 22-game winning streak. Drake finished 18-0 in regular season play, the first time a MVC team has gone undefeated in conference action. Baranczyk was named the 2017 MVC Coach of the Year and espnW Mid-Major Coach of the Year for her team's outstanding 2016-17 season.
 
Baranczyk has compiled an impressive 99-61 record in five seasons at Drake, including a 61-29 mark in league play. Baranczyk has had nine players earn 16 all-conference selections, four MVC Freshman of the Year award winners and two MVC Player of the Year winners during her tenure. Starting in 2014-15, the Bulldogs have recorded three-consecutive 20-plus win seasons under Baranczyk. It is the first time since 1999-2002 this has occurred at Drake.
 
Training camp for the USA U19 Women's World Cup Team will begin on July 7, with the official 12-member team to be selected prior to its departure for Italy.