COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (March 28, 2023) – USA Basketball announced today the 2023 USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team coaching staffs. Head coach for the 2023 USA Women’s U19 World Cup Team is Joni Taylor (Texas A&M University), assisted by DeLisha Milton-Jones (Old Dominion University) and Teri Moren (Indiana University). Leading the 2023 USA Women’s U16 National Team is Dan Rolfes (Incarnate Word Academy) with assistants Bobbi Morgan (Ursinus University) and Trenia Tillis-Hoard (Tyler Junior College).
Coaching selections for the U19 Women’s National Team were made by the USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Committee, while coaching selections for the U16 Women’s National Team were made by the Women’s Developmental National Team Committee. All selections were approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.
Taylor, Milton-Jones and Moren will lead the USA at the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Madrid, Spain, from July 15-23. Last year, the trio led the 2022 USA Women’s U18 National Team to the gold medal at the FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship in Buenos Aires.
Taylor earned a second gold medal last year as an assistant coach for the 2022 USA Basketball Women’s National Team that went 8-0 at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Sydney. Taylor, who has previous USA Basketball national and junior national team experience as an assistant coach (2021 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup) and court coach (2018 FIBA U18 Women’s Americas Championship), has coached for more than 20 years at the Division I level.
Taylor recently completed her first season as the head coach at Texas A&M. Previously, she was at the helm at the University of Georgia (2015-22) where she won 140 games en route to four NCAA appearances. The 2021 SEC of the Year also served on the staff at Louisiana State University (2010-11), University of Alabama (2008-10), Louisiana Tech University (2005-08) and Troy University (2002-05) before joining Georgia in 2011.
“It is always an honor to represent America and USA Basketball,” Taylor said. “I am thankful to be able to compete on a global stage alongside an incredible staff and an amazing group of young women. I can’t wait to create even more memories in the red, white and blue with my USA Basketball family.”
Milton-Jones, a two-time Olympic and World Cup gold medalist, enters her second bench coaching assignment with USA Basketball. She was a court coach for training camps leading up to the 2019 U19 Women’s World Cup and 2019 Pan American Games. As a player, she was a member of 18 USA teams and exhibitions. Milton-Jones, a 17-year WNBA veteran, recently completed her third season as the head coach at Old Dominion. In 2022, she was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
Moren will also undertake her second bench coaching assignment. Previously, she was a court coach in 2021 prior to the U19 World Cup. She just completed her ninth season, and fifth NCAA berth, with Indiana. With more than 20-plus years of coaching experience, Moren has also served as the head coach at Indiana State University (2010-14) and University of Indianapolis (2000-07).
Rolfes, Morgan and Tillis-Hoard will coach the Americans at the 2023 FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship (date and location TBA).
Rolfes will make his USA Basketball head coaching debut. He previously was a court coach for the 2017 USA Women’s U16 National Team. A 2018 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Rolfes has led Incarnate Word to 12 state championships, including six consecutive titles from 2017-2023. Under Rolfes, the program has won 100 consecutive games.
“I am incredibly honored and elated to be representing our country as the head coach of the USA Women’s U16 National Team,” Rolfes said. “I never imagined I would get this prestigious opportunity to carry on the success of USA Basketball. I am ready to get to work alongside the best players and coaches in the country.”
Morgan was a court coach last summer prior to the FIBA Women’s U17 World Cup. She just completed her second season as the head coach at Ursinus College. Previously, she was at Haverford College for 13 seasons, where she won three Centennial Conference titles and made four NCAA Division III tournament appearances.
Tillis-Hoard served as a court coach at the trials for the 2017 USA Women’s U16 National Team. She was also involved as a court coach for the 2001 World University Games. An inductee of the 2023 Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame, Tillis-Hoard has been with Tyler Junior College since 2000. She was named the 2022 Junior College Women’s Coach of the Year after capturing the NJCAA Division I Women’s National Basketball Championship.
The U16 trio of coaches will be a part of staff at the USA Women’s Junior National Team minicamp in Dallas starting March 31.