Colorado Springs, Colo. - UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma and Duke men's coach Mike Krzyzewski were announced co-recipients of the 2012 USA Basketball National Coach of the Year award after each led the USA to a gold medal in the London Olympic Games and undefeated exhibition records in 2012.

"The opportunity to coach the Olympic Team is an amazing opportunity that you are very fortunate to have and all you want to do is a great job while putting the players in a position to be successful," said Auriemma, 2012 U.S. Olympic/Women's National Team head coach. "I thought our entire coaching staff, Doug Bruno, Marynell Meadors, Jen Gillom and everyone associated with our team from Carol Callan on down, were outstanding. We got all the resources and support that we needed, and I think I owe a debt of gratitude to all of them, along with Jim Tooley and Jerry Colangelo for what they do.

"So, I don't know that it was me as much as the support group we had around us and the great group of athletes I had the opportunity to coach. They were just unbelievably committed to winning, and I don't know if I'll ever be around a group like that ever again."

This is the second USA Basketball National Coach of the Year award for Auriemma, who also shared the honor with Krzyzewski in 2010, and an unprecedented fifth award for Krzyzewski, who earned or shared the honor in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

The U.S. women's gold medal was an unprecedented fifth-straight Olympic gold, a feat never before accomplished in any women's traditional team sport, while under Krzyzewski's hand the USA men captured a second-consecutive Olympic gold. The USA Basketball Board of Directors is responsible for selecting annual awards.

The National Coach of the Year award was established in 1996 to recognize a USA Basketball head coach who, during the year of the award, made significant impact on the success of individual athlete and team performance at the highest level of competition.

In addition to Auriemma and Krzyzewski, previous winners include Jennifer Rizzotti (2011), Jamie Dixon (2009), Anne Donovan (2008, 2007), Gail Goestenkors (2005), Van Chancellor (2004, 2002), Larry Brown (2003, 1999), Jim Boeheim (2001), Nell Fortner (2000), Clem Haskins (1998), Mo McHone (1997) and Tara VanDerveer (1996).

Geno Auriemma:

In the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, Auriemma led the USA women to an 8-0 record and piloted the USA Women's National Team to a 5-0 record during exhibition play in 2012.

"Coach Auriemma led the way, and he was never satisfied," said Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), three-time Olympic gold medalist and 2012 co-captain. "He always wanted more from us as individuals and as a unit. It was more than just winning a gold medal, it was about playing basketball the right way."

Under Auriemma's leadership, the USA topped teams by an average of 34.4 points per game during the Olympics and listed No. 1 in 15 of 19 major statistical categories among the 12-team field, including points averaged (90.6), field goal percentage (.484), rebounding margin (+17.2), blocked shots (41), assists (185), steals (84) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.67).

The team also recorded 2012 Olympic single-game highs for points scored (114), field goals made (52), field goals attempted (90), field goal percentage (.627), rebounds (62), assists (33), steals (15) and blocked shots (11), and set U.S. Olympic single-game records for points (tied), rebounds, field goals made, field goals attempted (tied), assists and blocked shots.

The 2012 squad also set U.S. Olympic competition records for field goals attempted (597), rebounds (404) and blocked shots (41).

Additionally, as part of USA Basketball's Hoops for Troops program, Auriemma and members of the USA Women's National Team conducted a clinic for approximately 50 children of military members on July 14 at the D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C.

Currently in his 28th season as head coach for the Huskies, Auriemma reached his 13th NCAA Final Four in the 2011-12 season, finishing with a 33-5 record.