Duke Coach Kara Lawson Leads Team USA During March Madness

Most basketball coaches consider March Madness their busiest time of year, but Kara Lawson just took multitasking to a whole new level.

After leading Duke to back-to-back ACC Tournament championships on March 8, Lawson flew straight to Puerto Rico for her debut as head coach of the U.S. National Team. She guided a star-studded American squad through three dominant wins in the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournament, with Team USA winning by an average of 47 points.

Then she handed the coaching reins to assistant Nate Tibbets and jetted back to Durham to join her Blue Devils for Selection Sunday. The whirlwind schedule would exhaust most people, but Lawson made it look seamless.

Her strategy? Give her Duke players the week off to rest before the NCAA Tournament. It's something she's done consistently throughout her six years leading the program, and it creates the perfect window for her new Team USA responsibilities.

During those breaks, Lawson usually works anyway. This time she just had games to coach instead of practice plans to write.

The Ripple Effect

Lawson's dual role represents something bigger than one coach's impressive schedule. She's become the first active college coach to lead Team USA's women's basketball program, opening doors for future coaches who want to serve their country while building championship programs at home.

Her success shows that with smart planning and trust in your staff, you don't have to choose between opportunities. Duke's players got crucial rest time before their tournament run, while Team USA dominated its qualifying games with a coach who understands the modern game.

The arrangement benefits everyone involved. Duke returns to March Madness refreshed and ready, while Team USA gets a coach who's currently building one of the nation's top programs.

Lawson's message is clear: when you build strong systems and empower the people around you, you can accomplish more than you ever thought possible.