Colangelo wants Krzyzewski as next USA Basketball director
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USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo wants Mike Krzyzewski to take over his job, he said Tuesday on ESPN Radio’s Capital Games Podcast.
Colangelo intends for Duke and current Team USA head coach Krzyzewski to succeed him following the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has been tabbed to take over from Krzyzewski as head coach for the 2020 games, beginning with the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China. Colangelo said he promised Popovich he would remain in his role through 2020 and step down afterward, clearing the way for Krzyzewski should he accept the job.
Popvich will coach the U.S. Select Team this summer, which will practice against the Olympic team ahead of the games in Rio. The Select Team will feature young players such as DeAngelo Russell, Julius Randle, Myles Turner, Devin Booker, C.J. McCollum and Justise Winslow, among others.
Since Colangelo took over USA Basketball in 2005, the United States has won two Olympic gold medals, two FIBA World Championships, and the FIBA Americas tournament. The 69-year-old Krzyzewski’s contract at Duke expires after the 2021 season, and he has said he hopes to stay involved with the USA program he has coached since entering with Colangelo in 2005.
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“I want Coach K's role after 2016 to be alongside me and get as much experience as he possibly can,” Colangelo said. “The real question mark is, how many more years will be coaching at Duke? I don't think he would be able to handle or be eligible to serve in my capacity in USA Basketball if he's still coaching. We'll see what happens in these next four years. But if it were left to me, he would replace me at the appropriate time—sometime after 2020.”
Colangelo also said he expects the Olympic roster to be finalized by June 27. Stephen Curry and LaMarcus Aldridge became the latest stars to remove themselves from the player pool, which still includes LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, among many other stars. Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and John Wall are unavailable due to injury.
- Jeremy Woo
