Jerry Colangelo has been the managing director of Team USA Men’s Basketball since 2005 and the Chairman since 2009. USA Basketball was looking to restore order to the men’s basketball program after a lackluster bronze medal performance in 2004. Immediately, Colangelo turned the program around.
Since he took over the USA Basketball reigns, Colangelo changed the fortunes of Team USA, in particular, the Men’s teams. The men’s and women’s senior national teams have dominated, winning gold medals in dominating fashion in each of the last three Olympic games. On top of that, Colangelo has developed a youth feeder program designed to get a younger generation of stars acclimated to the international game and also the best coaches in the world.
Along with Colangelo, Men’s basketball head coach Mike Kryzyzewski also previously announced that these past Olympics would be his final go as head coach for the team. They both have led Team USA men’s basketball since 2008, winning three gold medals together. Coach K will be replaced by San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich but as of right now there is not a successor to Colangelo.
Colangelo made the announcement today in a press release from USA Basketball.
Jerry Colangelo announced today that he will not seek a third term as USA Basketball Chairman. Colangelo will continue in his longtime position as Managing Director of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team, and a new Chairman will be elected by the USA Basketball Board of Directors at its annual meeting on Nov. 14.
Colangelo became USA Basketball Chairman for the 2009-12 quadrennium and was re-elected for the 2013-16 term to become USA Basketball’s only Chairman/President to serve two four-year terms. He is relinquishing the role to concentrate on building the USA Men’s National Team’s player pool for the 2017-20 quad and leading the transition to a new coaching staff, with five-time NBA champion Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs replacing Mike Krzyzewski of Duke University as head coach.
“Given the coaching change and the challenge of assembling a group of players for FIBA’s new competition schedule, this is a good time to devote my full attention to the Men’s National Team,” said Colangelo. “As Chairman of USA Basketball, I’m proud of what our teams at all levels have accomplished and how our players have embraced the responsibility of representing their country. I look forward to working with the next Chairman to ensure that we continue to honor and build on USA Basketball’s rich tradition.”
As Colangelo completes his eight-year tenure as Chairman, USA Basketball ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA’s world-ranking categories: men’s, women’s, combined, boys and girls.
