Kerr succeeds Popovich as USA national team coach
SAN FRANCISCO (USA) – USA Basketball on Monday announced Steve Kerr as the new head coach of its national team until 2024.
An assistant under Gregg Popovich at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China, where the USA finished seventh, and at the Tokyo Olympics staged this past summer, where the Americans won the gold medal, Kerr will now hold the reins.
He captured the world title with the Americans in 1986 as a player.
“I’m incredibly honored and humbled to represent our country as the head coach for the USA Basketball men’s national team,” said Kerr. “It’s a thrilling opportunity and I’m excited for the challenge.”
Additionally, Gonzaga University head coach Mark Few, Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra and Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams will complete the USA national team coaching staff as assistant coaches.
“With today’s announcement, our men’s national basketball team begins its quest for 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and 2024 Olympic gold,” said Martin E. Dempsey, USA Basketball Chairperson. “On behalf of everyone associated with USA Basketball, I want to thank these four great coaches for stepping up to lead the young men who will proudly wear USA into international competition.”
In appointing Kerr, USA Basketball are opting for continuity and ensuring that an experienced coach will be at the helm. Since winning five NBA titles in his famous playing career, including a couple under Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs and three others with the Chicago Bulls, Kerr has led the Golden State Warriors, the team he has coached since 2014, to three crowns in 2015, 2017 and 2018.
His first major tournament in charge figures to be the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which is to be staged in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.
It is the second big change with USA Basketball in recent times, with Grant Hill having taken office as the United States national team managing director after predecessor Jerry Colangelo.
Kerr is one of just five people to have won multiple NBA titles as both player and coach, along with his former Bulls boss Phil Jackson, as well as KC Jones, Tommy Heinsohn and Bill Russell.
He became just the third coach in NBA history to win three championships in his first four seasons at the helm, along with Jackson and John Kundla.
Under Kerr, Golden State became the first team in NBA history to win at least 65 games in three consecutive campaigns (67, 73, 67), owning the league’s best record outright in three-straight seasons—the first team to do so since the Boston Celtics from 1983-84 to 1985-86.
Source: FIBA
