Maher to coach China

Maher led the British women for the past two summers including through their historic EuroBasket 2011 campaign which saw the side reach the second round of the competition and their first appearance at an Olympic Games in 2012. Despite not winning a game in the London Olympics the GB women impressed as they came close to victories against Russia, Canada and within three points of eventual silver medallists, France.

Maher now returns to China for the second time in his career after he led the women's side to a fourth-place finish at the Beijing Games in 2008.

British Basketball's Performance Director, Chris Spice commented: "We are very sad to have lost the services of our Olympic women's coach Tom Maher who has recently accepted the Head Coach role with China through to Rio 2016. Unfortunately we were not able to offer anything beyond a one-year contract and we fully understand his decision. We wish Tom every success for his next challenge and we want to thank him for his unwavering efforts over the past three years with the GB national women's team.

"British Basketball hopes to be in a position to announce his successor in the coming weeks."