Beijing, China, November 27, 2008 – "Jenny" Ping Lang has said she will not walk away from Volleyball and is weighing up taking a coaching position in Europe after choosing not to extend her contract as USA Women's head coach for the upcoming Olympic quadrennial.

"I may go to Europe and have made contact with several European clubs, maybe to Turkey or Italy to coach a club team as the competition period for the league only lasts about five months and in the rest of seven months I can be free to accompany my family," said Lang.

"I will not become a housewife, and I will certainly continue to work for Volleyball. You will see me standing in the competiton court, coaching a team. I will never give up Volleyball as I love it."

Lang enjoys incredible popularity among the Chinese public and many fans are already calling for her to be the next head coach of the Chinese Women's national team, but she was quick to rule out the possibility of a return.

"Chen Zhonghe did a good job as the head coach of the Chinese women's national team in the past eight years. He is the right person to take the reins. Even if Chen is not selected to be the head coach, there are still many other excellent and capable coaches in China," said Lang.

In an interview with Chinese media, Lang explained in detail the reasons why she decided not to renew her contract with USA Volleyball.

"I would have persuaded myself to coach the American team in the next four years if the training base for the team was in Los Angeles where my daughter and I stay," said the 48-year-old Lang. "However the base is in Colorado which is very far from my home and it takes 16 hours by car to go back home."

"When I decided to move to the United States from Italy four year ago, I thought I would have been nearer and easier to have more time with my daughter. Later I realised that this was a very unrealistic thought."

But wishing to spend more time with her daughter in the U.S. was just one of the reasons for her stepping down.

"I am not young any more, and I have to consider if my physical ability can support me in sustaining the pressure as head coach and working very hard each whole year in the four-year period," said Lang.

"Besides, my parents are very old in Beijing and are not well. As their daughter, I must spend more time with them and show my filial affection to them. When my mother heard I will not take the position of the head coach of the American team she was very happy, showing an old mother's love to her beloved daughter."

As a player, Lang was a member of the Chinese Women's national team that won the gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games, an FIVB World Championship crown in 1982 and FIVB World Cup titles in 1981 and 1985. Know as the "Iron Hammer" during her playing days, Lang was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame on October 18, 2002, following an incredible career that saw Lang establish herself as one of the finest-ever female players.

As a head coach, Lang led the Chinese Women's squad to the silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, a silver medal at 1998 FIVB World Championship, a bronze medal at 1995 FIVB World Cup and a gold medal at 1995 Asian Championship.

Lang also coached in Japan and Italy, where she was head coach for a number of championship teams in the Italian League.