USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo officially announced on Tuesday that Coach K and the entire 2006-08 USA coaching staff will continue to lead the National Team from 2009-2012. The 2010 World Championships in Turkey and the 2012 Olympics in London will highlight the second term for the group.
“Mike and the staff did an incredible job and he is more than entitled to have another run at it,” said Colangelo. “I’ve said it over and over, he was the right guy at the right time and that is still true.”
Coach K noted at the official press conference that he is excited about the chance to continue what was built over the first term. “The gold medal you can put away,” said Coach K. “You don’t put away your relationship with your country, and you don’t put away your relationship with the world. Those are ongoing and will never stop.”
By winning the gold, earning the world’s respect, and coming together as a family, Coach K and Colangelo both stated that the National Team set a great precedent for all USA Basketball teams. “Everybody is in this together,” said Coach K. “There isn’t a top and a bottom. Every team is important… The gold medal and respect are the goals for any USA Basketball competition.”
The worldwide exposure and success of the 2008 Olympic champs has created a buzz about USA Basketball, and the goal is to make the USA jersey the most fashionable in this country at all levels while having an even greater impact at the grassroots level. Colangelo suggested that it was no coincidence that the USA U19 team, the U16 team, and the World University Games team combined for a 20-1 record this summer and two gold medals. Continuity and success at “the varsity level” of USA Basketball, as Coach K termed it, will continue to be important as the National Team looks to do an even better job this time around having four years of experience in the books.
“We’ve all taken ownership, we’ve loved being together and most of all, we’ve loved representing our country,” said Coach K. “What a great statement for continuity that our coaching staff will remain in place until 2012.”
