Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, and New Orleans Pelicans head coach and former USA Basketball player Monty Williams were announced as USA Basketball Men’s National Team assistant coaches for 2013-16 by USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo.
Colangelo is an Illini and a South Suburbanite by the way!
Duke “not just a basketball coach, but a leader who happens to coach basketball” Mike Krzyzewski will return to lead the USA National Team program for a third quadrennium. And no, I have no clue what a quadrennium is.
“To have Tom Thibodeau join us, I think his reputation speaks for itself. He was a great assistant who has become an outstanding pro coach, and nobody wants to play the Bulls. The toughness that they show, their togetherness, their competitiveness, and the preparation that is there, that is shown by he and his staff,” Coach K. said.
The USA Men’s National Team begins its 2013 training with a July 22-25 mini-camp in Las Vegas that concludes with the 2013 USA Basketball Showcase, featuring a Blue-White intra-squad game, on July 25 at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. The mini-camp will feature rising NBA stars, newly minted All-Stars, and members of the 2012 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team. A full roster will be announced later this month
Thibodeau’s selection is his first with USA Basketball.
“I am honored that Jerry Colangelo and Mike Krzyzewski have asked me to join the USA Basketball National Team coaching staff,” said Thibodeau. “It is truly and honor and a privilege to be representing our country the next four years and to be part of such a great team. I’m very excited about having the opportunity to work with all the great coaches and players that are going to be involved.”
A veteran of 22 years along the NBA sidelines, Thibodeau (pronounced Thib-uh-DOE) was named the 18th head coach in the Chicago Bulls franchise history on June 23, 2010, and is the only coach in NBA history to win the most games in the league each of his first two seasons.
In three seasons as the Bulls head mentor, Thibodeau teams have compiled 157-73 win-loss record(.683 winning percentage) during the regular season, won two Central Division titles, and participated in three NBA Playoffs. His career winning percentage of .683 ranks him fourth in NBA history among head coaches who have coached at least 200 career games.
Thibodeau served as the Associate Head Coach of the Boston Celtics from 2007-10, where the Celtics made two trips to the NBA Finals and won the 2008 NBA Championship. Prior to joining the Bulls, his teams won .530 percent of their regular season games (896-794) and .527 percent of their postseason contests (88-79)
The 2014-16 USA Basketball National Team coaching staff features USA head coach and Duke University’s Naismith Hall of Fame mentor Mike Krzyzewski. Serving as assistant coaches are USA Basketball and Syracuse University veteran coach Jim Boeheim, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. An MBA and Fulbright scholar in media studies, he’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)