Julie Rousseau

As of June 18, 2009

Julie Rousseau, who has spent five seasons (2004-05 to present) at the helm of the Pepperdine women's basketball program, will coach with her first USA Basketball team in the summer of 2009.

'I'm honored, thrilled and absolutely excited about the opportunity to be a part of a team that is playing for our country,' Rousseau said. 'I'm humble and grateful to have this opportunity to assist in bringing home the gold medal, and I'm prepared to support and help in any way to allow our team to be successful. Being able to coach some of the best players in our country and to represent our country is the epitome of my career and really a thrill.'

Rousseau led Pepperdine to the NCAA Tournament faster than any women's basketball coach in school history, accomplishing the feat in just her second season at the helm in 2005-06. As the fourth seed in the West Coast Conference (WCC) Tournament, Rousseau's 2006 squad tied a WCC record as the lowest-seeded team to win the conference title and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

During Rousseau's five seasons, the Waves have had seven All-WCC first team selections, four WCC All-Tournament honorees, five WCC All-Freshman Team members and three WCC All-Academic selections.

Rousseau holds the distinction of being the only Pepperdine coach to win his or her first conference game, as the Waves defeated San Diego on the road, 78-56, on Jan. 6, 2005.

Prior to Pepperdine, Rousseau spent four years (2000-01 to 2003-04) as an assistant coach on Tara VanDerveer's staff at Stanford University.

During Rousseau's four years at Stanford, the Cardinal compiled an overall record of 105-26 (.801), finished first in the Pacific-10 Conference each year, recording a 59-13 overall league mark (.819), and advanced to the NCAA Tournament all four years, including the Elite Eight in 2004.

Rousseau worked for the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from May 1997 to July 1998, serving as an assistant coach, interim head coach and head coach. She was promoted to head coach in December 1997 and held the position for one year.

Before making the leap to the professional ranks with the Sparks, Rousseau was the head coach at George Washington Preparatory High School in Los Angeles from 1992-97. She led the Lady Generals to postseason appearances in each of her five seasons, and came away with the L.A. City championship in 1996. She was awarded the 1997 Budget Coach of the Year Award, presented by The Women's Sports Foundation.

Rousseau was also an assistant and served as head coach of the boys' freshman and sophomore teams during her eight years working at George Washington. She has been involved in numerous summer leagues and camps, including Hoopin' with Jamila and the Michael Jordan Camp.

Rousseau played one season at UC Irvine and later graduated from Cal State Los Angeles in 1991 with a degree in education. She is currently working on a master's degree in psychology at Pepperdine.