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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado: Jenny Lang Ping, a beloved Chinese hero who helped the 1984 women's volleyball team capture Olympic gold, will not return as coach of the US women's national squad.
USA Volleyball announced on Tuesday that Lang Ping has chosen not to extend her contract for the upcoming four-year run to the 2012 London Olympics after guiding the American women to a silver medal last August at the Beijing Games.
"At this moment in my life, family comes first and I wish more flexibility to spend time with them," she said. "I prefer a club volleyball season that lasts five months so I can spend the other seven months of the year with them."
Lang Ping masterminded a veteran group of eight prior Olympians to a podium after the Americans finished fourth in 2000 and fifth in 2004.
"I want to thank USA Volleyball for allowing me this opportunity," Lang Ping said. "It was a very challenging job with the many differences in system and culture compared to the Chinese system. Yet I learned a lot and appreciate this rewarding experience."
Lang Ping guided China to the silver medal at the 1996 Olympics and last coached in China in 1998, then spent six years coaching in Italy before replacing Japan's Toshi Yoshida as the US women's coach in late 2004.
She felt the tension of coaching against her homeland in China at the Olympics.
"Although I was somewhat torn with my allegiance to China, it was very satisfying professionally to lead this team to the 2008 Olympic Games silver medal in my home country and also witness China earn the bronze," she said.
Lang Ping went 90-49 as the US coach, including a five-set victory over China in Beijing Olympic play, victories over Italy and Cuba in the Olympic playoffs and a loss to Brazil in the title game.
"USA Volleyball is very fortunate to have had Jenny leading our programme," USA Volleyball executive officer Doug Beal said. "We respect her decision to devote more of her life to family while remaining in the coaching profession. She really performed magnificently under difficult situations."
Lang Ping, known as the "Iron Hammer" in her playing days, was the only woman coach among those guiding the world's 20 top-ranked national teams.
"I will have many fond memories," Lang Ping said. "I believe the US will have another great team during the next quadrennial and I wish them well in pursuit of gold in London at the 2012 Olympics." - AFP/de
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