Spaniard Francisco Garcia is the new coach of India’s Women’s Basketball Team

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has announced that experienced Spanish coach Francisco Garcia will be named as the head coach of India’s Senior Women’s Basketball squad. Garcia (41), has 20 years of coaching experience in the past in Spain, Denmark, and Finland, will become the fourth international head coach for the Indian Women and take over from Pete Gaudet.

The Times of India reported that Garcia spent the last season with Spanish Women’s national team players as a private development coach, including stars like Amaya Valdermoro, who has won three WNBA championships.

Via Times of India:

Having started his coaching career way back in 1994 in Asturias, Francisco was involved in various women's professional programs in Spain, Denmark and Finland, where he won a gold and silver medal.
Since returning to Spain in 2005, he has been coaching in various Spanish Federation Youth National Development Camps.

The development has left Indian hoopsters feeling excited. Top star Geethu Anna Jose said, "The BFI has done its part. We had a small chat with Francisco and he seems very interested in Indian basketball… He feels India has very good talent and is really happy to work with us. I'm waiting for the camp."

Garcia will have to be up to his task from the get go: he only has a few months of preparation before India's Women get a chance to play for the Asia's biggest basketball event - the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship for Women - from October 27 - November 3 in Bangkok (Thailand). After finishing sixth in the 2011 Championship, the Indian team finds itself in Level I of the tournament, along with Asian superpowers China, Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Lebanon.

Pete Gaudet, who was formerly coach at Duke University, left India after 15 months with the team.