April 15, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern women's basketball coach June Olkowski has been selected as the head coach for this summer's 2002 Big Ten Conference Women's Basketball Foreign Tour Team. The squad will head overseas, competing in Belgium and Holland from June 14-24.
"Traveling overseas to play basketball will be a great cultural experience for our team," said Olkowski. "The players (and coaches) getting to know each other in a non-competitive environment, learning to live in another country will expose us to a unique adventure."
The women's team posted an unblemished record in 2001, going a perfect 5-0 in France and Switzerland. The team, in its 11th consecutive trip overseas, has a 38-17 overall record.
Olkowski, who recently completed her third season at Northwestern, will be leading the Big Ten Foreign Tour for the first time in her career.
"I'm excited about this opportunity," said Olkowski. "As a coach, I want to win as many games as we can, but away from the court I want the players to enjoy their experience and take away some positive memories."
Olkowski's coaching pedigree includes stints at Maryland, Arizona, Auburn and Butler. When she was named Arizona's head coach in 1987, she was, at the time, the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I history. Prior to Northwestern, Olkowski led Butler to five consecutive winning seasons and the 1998 Midwestern Collegiate Conference title. Charged with rebuilding the Wildcat program, she has drawn a strong corps of talent to Evanston, including 2002 Big Ten All-Freshman Team member Sarah Kwasinski (Chicago, Ill./ Fenwick).
Olkowski's roster will be solidified next month and the team will gather for training camp in Evanston prior to departure.