New USA Basketball National Team Coach Named

 

After securing a long-awaited Gold Medal at this past summer's Olympics, Gregg Popovich is ready to hand over the reigns of the national team to his protogè, Steve Kerr. 

USA Basketball is finalizing a decision to name Steve Kerr as the next national coach with an assistant coaching staff that will include Monty Williams, Erik Spoelstra and Mark Few, sources tell ESPN. A formal announcement is expected in the near future.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 10, 2021

Kerr worked as an assistant under Pop for the 2019 World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics, and has three NBA championships under his belt as a head coach with the Golden State Warriors.

The managing director of USA Basketball, Grant Hill, selected Kerr as the heir apparent to Popovich. Hill himself is a Hall of Famer, who won Gold with the 1996 U.S. Olympic team.

Kerr will have ample help in his new gig, with assistants the likes of Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams and Gonzaga head coach Mark Few.

With Team USA's roster always consisting of All-Star talent top to bottom, Kerr's experience coaching a team of superstars with the Warriors (Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant) gives him ample experience being able to fit so much talent into a system.

Kerr's first gig at the helm will be the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, followed by the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports