FULTON, Mo.-- First presented In 1952, the Alumni Award Of Distinction was created to honor a graduate who has achieved National or International Fame in his or her chosen field. Today, it is my pleasure to recognize Carol Callan, the USA Basketball Women's National Team Director.
 
Carol Leimer Callan graduated Magna Cum Laude from William Woods in 1975 with a Bachelor Of Arts Degree  in Mathematics  and  Physical Education.  Also, she was a member of the women's basketball team.
 
She was responsible for all facets of the historic 1995-96 USA Basketball Women's National Team that posted a perfect 52-0 record and the 1996 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team, which reclaimed the Gold Medal with an 8-0 record.
 
Carol assumed duties as Women's National Team Director at the conclusion of the 1996 Olympic Games.  As National Team Director, she is responsible for all USA Basketball Women's Team programs, including planning, athlete and staff selections, competitions, trials and training camps.
 
Player and coach relations are also an integral part of her responsibilities, in addition to the daily implementation of team training and competitions.
 
Carol has directed gold medal-winning teams in five straight Olympic Games (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012) and four of the last five World Championships (1998, 2002, 2010 and 2014). 
 
Additionally, she has directed numerous junior and developmental national teams to gold medal results, and since 2008, those teams are a combined 114-2, having won only gold medals in their international competitions.
 
Prior to taking the reigns of the national team program, Carol was involved with USA Basketball for almost seven years as a volunteer committee member.
 
 She served on USA Basketball's Executive Committee from 1992 to 1995, while from 1989 to 1995, she was a member of the Women's Coach and Player Selection Committee, serving as chair from 1992 to 1995.
 
Carol joined USA Basketball after spending 10 years (1986-1995) as Director Of Athletics  and Activities and two years as an Assistant Principal (1993-1995) for Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado. 
 
Prior to her administrative duties, she coached the girls basketball team, winning a state championship in 1985. She also taught Mathematics and immediately after college, Carol was a Computer Programmer for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City.
 
On campus, Carol was a member of Chi Omega Sorority, Colonel's Twenty And the Honor Board. She received the prestigious Amy Shelton Mcnutt Award during her senior year. 
 
In addition, Carol has an MBA and a Master's degree in Physical Education from the University of Colorado in Boulder.  She is married to Dave Callan and they have two sons, Greg and Tom. 
 
I am pleased to present the Award Of Distinction to a sorority sister and good friend, but more importantly, a distinguished graduate of William Woods University.