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UK basketball assistant coach Orlando Antigua has been appointed head coach of the Dominican Republic national team.

Antigua takes over the role previously held by UK head coach John Calipari. Antigua will remain on Calipari’s staff at UK.

“I’m extremely excited to have this opportunity,” Antigua said in a UK press release. “Anytime you can coach and be a participant of a national team, it’s very special. For Coach Calipari and Mitch Barnhart to allow me to take part in this opportunity means a lot, on a personal level as well as professionally.”

The Dominican Republic native was an assistant under Calipari as the UK head coach guided the Dominican to the brink of their first Olympic games.

Nigeria defeated DR in the final round of qualification for a spot at London 2012.

Antigua takes over as head coach of a team he played for as a player between 1994-1998.