Coach K will lead USA

NEW YORK -- Coach K's first day on his new job wasn't just about Xs and Os. It was filled with questions about NBA players representing USA Basketball minding their Ps and Qs.\nTwo weeks after it was widely reported, the sport's national governing body Wednesday made Mike Krzyzewski the first coach of the first men's senior national team.\nThe man who has led Duke to three national championships will be in charge of the U.S. national program for the next three years, a span that includes the World Championships in Japan in 2006 and the Beijing Olympics in 2008.\nHe is the first college coach to lead a U.S. team in a major international competition since NBA players started playing in the Olympics in 1992.\nI wanted alongside of me to go forward."\nAnd Jerry Colangelo's presence made Krzyzewski's easy decision easier.\n"For a coach, this is the ultimate honor, to have the opportunity to coach your country's team," said Krzyzewski, a West Point graduate who retired from the U.S. Army as a captain. "I love this game at every level. Knowing Jerry was in charge, I asked him at our first meeting why he was doing this. He said, 'I love the game and the game's been good to me and we owe the game.' I really believe that. You could never repay it enough. If you don't give back it's wrong."\nUp to 25 players will be part of the national team process and Colangelo said over the three years there could be deletions and additions for various reasons. But no one will be invited without meeting Colangelo for a one-on-one interview.\nKrzyzewski's staff should be announced within three weeks and Colangelo said the plan calls for the team to assemble in late July for the World Championships that end Sept. 3. 2007 will be an off year, and the time frame for the 2008 Olympics should be similar to next year's preparation.