For all of the accomplishments in Van Chancellor's coaching career, leading the United States women’s basketball team to Olympic gold in 2004 is at the top of the list.

"The Olympic experience was the greatest experience I've had,” Chancellor said. “This is all out of tremendous experiences. Going to the Final Four was unbelievable. Winning the (WNBA) championships. But when you're the coach of a team that represents your country, it’s just everything. And then you get to go to Athens, Greece, and you do win the gold medal, it doesn’t get any better than that."

Chancellor had perhaps the most talented women's basketball roster ever assembled at his disposal. So players who were all-stars and even future hall-of-famers were riding the bench in close games. Letting everyone get on the floor was not part of the plan.

"I never once thought about playing time,” Chancellor said. “USA Basketball had charged me to win a gold medal. I coached the gold medal team, in regard to playing time, just like I would coach the LSU women’s basketball (team) or the Houston Comets, for that matter.”

Team USA rolled through the early rounds, before finally getting challenged by Russia and Australia. Chancellor was able to pull this group together, though, and win an Olympic championship in Athens.

His players had gold medals put around their necks. But, unfortunately for Chancellor, Olympic coaches don't get the same prize.

"Biggest disappointment I had was not getting a gold medal,” Chancellor said. “That’s childish and that’s bad. But that was something I really wanted. They give out flowers, and my captains gave me their flowers. And then when I got home, there’s no telling how many people made me a gold medal. I have about 10 of those that I keep.”

Four years later, Chancellor still looks back on those days as some of the best of his life. Now, as the head coach of the LSU Lady Tigers, pictures from those days line the walls of this office.

He coached Team USA to a gold medal and finished his run in international basketball with a perfect record.

"When you don’t lose a game, you enjoy that now,” Chancellor said. “You play 38 games all over this world. Australia, China, Cuba, everywhere… France, Germany, Spain… Athens, Greece… You do all that and you go 38-0, it doesn’t get any better than that.”