Jerry Colangelo to continue as President of USA Basketball till 2016 – NBA News
As uncertainty revolves the U.S team that will be sent to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, USA Basketball President Jerry Colangelo has announced that he will continue in his position for the next four years;
“I’ve decided I’m going to continue. I’m committed to our organization during this transition period. I want to make sure, as good as things are, that once the baton is handed over to someone it’s in even better shape. That’s the
plan for these next four years,” said Colangelo while talking to USA Today.
Colangelo took over the control of U.S.A basketball when the team had lost their dominance on the international stage and finished with a bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics. He hired legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski and the two have
since completely changed the landscape of USA Basketball, and put them back on top of the basketball world with back to back Olympic gold medals, and well as a top finish at the 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship.
The U.S team has an impressive 62-1 record on the international stage since Colangelo has taken office, and he is looking forward to extending that even further.
Colangelo has also been instrumental in developing a certain character for the national team, as well as the players who make the team. Under his reign, selections for team U.S.A have been tough, and great emphasis has been given
to the chemistry of the team rather than the superstar status of any player or how good his individual game is. Under his watch, the U.S team has played like a solid unit, leading to a series of victories.
Colangelo’s first task will be finding a new head coach, as he did almost a decade ago. After the London Olympics, Mike Krzyzewski announced that he would not be returning to coach the U.S side for the 2016 Olympics, meaning that
the hunt for a new coach is on again.
Gregg Popovich, Doc Rivers and Doug Collins are a few names that are being taken to succeed Krzyzewski. Colangelo will also, during his time in office, have to decide the controversial topic of whether to send an under-23 team
to the next Olympics with only three exceptions. Players in the NBA are against the idea, as it may cause many top athletes currently in the NBA to miss ever playing in the Olympics.
Tags: