Montreal (AFP) – Gordie Herbert, who guided Germany to the 2023 Basketball World Cup crown, will coach the Canadian men’s national team for the next Olympic cycle, Canada Basketball announced on Thursday. The 66-year-old Canadian, who currently coaches Bayern Munich, led Germany to a fourth-place showing at last year’s Paris Olympics, where Canada finished fifth.
“His championship pedigree, command of the FIBA game, and understanding of what it takes to compete for medals on the world stage make him the ideal leader for this next chapter of Canada Basketball,” said Rowan Barrett, Canada’s senior men’s program general manager and executive vice president. Canada, sixth in the world rankings, reached the Olympics for the first time in 24 years and will try to deliver back-to-back Olympic berths at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
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“I’m incredibly honoured and excited for the opportunity to coach my home country,” Herbert said. “Canada Basketball has made tremendous progress in recent years and the depth of talent in the program is as good as anywhere in the world. I look forward to building on the strong culture that has been established and working with our athletes to continue pushing Canada to new heights.”
Herbert served as an assistant coach for Canada’s national team in 2001-02 and again from 2018-21. “It’s great to welcome Gordie back to our program,” Barrett said. “He knows what it means to represent Canada and brings the experience, leadership, and vision to guide this group through the next chapter of our journey.”
Herbert captured the 2004 German league title coaching the Frankfurt Skyliners, added a FIBA Europe Cup crown and Bundesliga Coach of the Year honours in 2016, and lifted domestic cups in France (2007) and Finland (2009). Herbert also served as an assistant coach with the 2008-09 Toronto Raptors and a consultant with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019-20. As a player, Herbert competed for Canada in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
© 2024 AFP
