MIAMI – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – It’s oh so rarely, but every now and then, the “Basketball Gods” get it right.  Every now and then, the very best people – the so-called “good guy” – is rewarded for years of hard work, years of incredible competence and performance, years of doing the right thing, years of guiding and being a guiding light, years of consistence, and of persistence.

In this case, the “good guy” is a woman – the first woman to ever be named president of FIBA Americas.

USA Basketball Women’s National Team director Carol Callan was elected as the 11th president of FIBA Americas during the 2019 FIBA Americas Assembly in Miami, Florida. Callan, the first female president of a FIBA zone, takes the reins from past president Usie Richards from the U.S. Virgin Islands, who has served in the role since March 2014.

In her role as FIBA Americas president, which is a four-year appointment, Callan will oversee the governance and organization of the major international tournament in the Americas zone, which includes 43 federations spanning North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. She also will serve on the FIBA Central Board through 2023.

“On behalf of everyone associated with USA Basketball, I want to congratulate Carol on her historic election as president of FIBA Americas,” said USA CEO Jim Tooley. “USA Basketball was proud to nominate Carol and we know her many years of experience in international basketball make her amazingly qualified for the position and the challenges ahead.” 

“This is a humbling opportunity,” said Callan. “I would like to thank my colleagues from the North American Sub-Zone for their continued support. I would like to say thanks to Usie for a job well done, and his encouragement and counseling. I look forward to working with everyone for the betterment and expansion of basketball in the Americas.”

Hired in February 1995 to oversee all facets of the historic 1995-96 USA Basketball Women’s National Team that posted a perfect 52-0 record, Callan also assisted with team operations for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team that reclaimed the gold medal with an 8-0 record.

Following the successful run in Atlanta, Callan assumed duties as the USA Basketball Women’s National Team director in October 1996, and is responsible for all USA Basketball women’s team programs, including competitions, trials, training camps, and serves as a liaison to women’s competition committees.

A primary architect for the historic, first-time USA National Team program, Callan was responsible for team logistics, travel, and scheduling of games and training. Since its inception in 1995, the highly successful USA National Team has posted an 100-1 slate in major international competitions winning six-straight Olympic gold medals and five of the past six FIBA World Cup gold medals, in addition to the numerous gold medals at the junior national team level.

Callan is a member of several USA Basketball selection committees – the National Team Steering Committee (chair), the National Team Player Selection Committee and the Developmental National Team Committee (non-voting chair). She serves on the FIBA and FIBA Americas Women’s Commissions, the WBCA Board of Directors and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Prior to taking the reins of the USA National Team program, Callan was involved with USA Basketball for almost seven years as a volunteer committee member. She served on USA Basketball’s Executive Committee as secretary from 1992 to 1995, and from 1989 to 1995 was a member of the Women’s Player Selection Committee, and served as chair from 1992-1995. Additionally, Callan was a member of the Women’s Programs Committee from 1992 to 1995.

Callan came to USA Basketball after spending 10 years (1986-1995) as director of athletics /activities and two years as an assistant principal (1993-1995) for Fairview High School in Boulder, Colo. Earning two master’s degrees from the University of Colorado, Callan holds a master’s in business administration and a master of science in physical education. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from William Woods College (Mo.) in 1975, graduating magna cum laude in mathematics and physical education.