Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly will spend the next month out of state. Fennelly is an assistant coach for the U.S. team that will compete in the under-19 World Championships later this month in Thailand.

Fennelly says a majority of the players have just finished their freshman year or will be entering college next year. Fennelly says several of the players were part of the under-18 U.S. team he helped coach last year.

There are six players back and six new ones following the trials in May. A committee picks the team. Fennelly says he enjoys being part of international competition, as he says you want to coach for your country and representing ISU is a part of it too.

Fennelly says he’s a picky eater, so all the traveling is not the easiest on him. The team will meet in Colorado Springs to begin practice on July ninth. The team will be in Thailand from July 17th through August third.

Fenelly says it impacts his coaching staff and family, but says it’s an opportunity he could not pass up.

Carol Owens from Northern Illinois is the head coach for the team.