Following Team USA 2012 Gold Medal victory in the London Olympics, it was widely assumed that Coach Mike Krzyewski would not be returning to coach the program in Rio. He had repeatedly said that the 2012 Olympics would be his last tournament coaching for USA Basketball and that it was time for someone else to take over. However, it would appear that Coach K has had a change of heart.
Reports from multiple media sources are suggesting that Coach K will be back running the bench for Team USA for the 2014 World Championships and the 2016 Olympics.
Krzyewski is highly regarded in basketball circles and is a great lure for Team USA who have been able to build “dream teams” with him coaching. This was after years of watching the best American players turn down playing for the program. The 2012 Olympic squad featured LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, and virtually every NBA star whom Coach K asked to play for the team.
Kryzewski has been at the helm of USA Basketball for eight years and was 62-1 as head coach. He won gold medals in both the Beijing and London Olympics as well as at the 2010 World Championships in Turkey. He won Gold as an assistant coach in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as well as in 1992 with the Original Dream Team in Barcelona.
Coach K is the long time head coach of Duke, and is the winningest coach in NCAA Basketball history. His stellar record currently stands at 957-297, and he has 4 NCAA National Championships, his latest in 2010.
An official announcement is expected by Friday.
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photo credit: The U.S. Military Academy at West Point via photopin cc
