Basketball World Cup: Coaches Tom Thibodeau, Monty Williams join Team USA

Tom Thibodeau

US men’s national coach Mike Krzyzewski has shaken up his coaching staff ahead of the Basketball World Cup in Spain next year and the 2016 Olympics in Rio, adding two NBA veterans.

Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and New Orleans Pelicans coach Monty Williams were named Monday as assistant coaches. They will join Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim, who has been a part of the program since 2006.

Krzyzewski, Duke University’s famed “Coach K”, has guided the US men’s team to a 62-1 record and the past two Olympic gold medals since taking over the US program after a disappointing bronze-medal showing at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Williams and Thibodeau replace Los Angeles Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni and former Portland coach Nate McMillan, who served as US national team assistants for the past seven years alongside Boeheim.

“Circumstances change for individuals, and it was time to make some coaching staff changes,” said USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo.

“I think we have assembled another outstanding coaching staff, one that I believe will continue to lead our program to success on the court as well as off. Coaches Thibodeau and Williams are outstanding additions to our staff, and both of them have already made their mark in the league.”

The US squad will conduct a mini-camp July 22-25 at Las Vegas.

“I’m really excited about the USA Basketball National Team coaching staff,” Krzyzewski said. “The different personalities that we have on this staff and the different strong suits of each coach will make all of us better.

“I’m anxious to get started.”

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