PARIS (FIBA World Championship for Women) - The French Basketball Federation have announced that Valerie Garnier will succeed Pierre Vincent as head coach of the senior women's national team after the incumbent play-caller decided to step down after five years at the helm.
The first major tournament for Garnier in her new role will be the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women in Turkey and she will be hoping to have the same kind of impact as her predecessor, who took the team to the top of the EuroBasket Women 2009 podium, less than a year after taking the job.
Vincent also guided France to a bronze at EuroBasket Women 2011, whilst his last two tournaments harvested silver medals.
He led Les Bleues to the Olympic Final in London last year where they were defeated by the USA and at EuroBasket Women 2013, where the hosts were pipped to the title by Spain in agonising fashion, via a one-point loss in Orchies.
Unsurprisingly, both National Technical Director Patrick Beesley and FFBB President Jean-Pierre Siutat gave glowing endorsements of Vincent and the work he carried out as head coach.
"I would firstly like to congratulate Pierre Vincent for leading Team France Women to magnificent achievements since taking office and for getting them known even more to the general public," said Siutat.
Beesley added: "We accept and respect the decision of Pierre and we want to pay tribute to the tremendous work he has done at the helm of Team France since 2008. The awards he has won with Les Bleues speak for themselves.
"The choice of Valerie Garnier seemed logical to ensure continuity with the work of Vincent. Valerie has been working with him for two seasons and we are excited to have a female coach and a former international with 61 caps taking the lead.
"This is a reward for Valerie and the work she has done for many years in her role as a club coach."
Garnier, who also followed in the footsteps of Vincent at club level with Bourges Basket, expressed her delight at being given the additional responsibility.
"I would first like to thank the President of the FFBB, Jean-Pierre Siutat and National Technical Director for their confidence in me and also to Pierre Fossett, the President of Bourges Basket who has allowed me to take this dual function," she said.
"It is an honour for me to succeed Pierre Vincent, with whom I had the chance to work for two campaigns with Team France.
"I am well placed to know that this is a major challenge," continued Garnier.
"I will make every effort to perpetuate the status obtained by Team France Women."
Vincent will continue to coach men’s basketball in France's Pro A with ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne.
