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Team USA wants Coach K back

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06:54 AM ET 06.03 | The process of building the latest version of Team USA is in full swing and that includes securing the coach who led the men's basketball team to gold in the 2008 Games in Beijing. Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, said Tuesday he is scheduled to meet with Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski in Chicago next week to gauge his interest in returning. Colangelo was encouraged during NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix four months ago when he met with six members of the 2008 team and all said they were interested in returning. A minicamp will be held in Las Vegas in July to look at potential players. Among those invited are Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy, Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo and Oklahoma's Blake Griffin, the likely top pick in the upcoming NBA draft.

Arizona Republic

Mike Krzyzewsk, Craig Jones/Getty Images Mike Krzyzewsk, Craig Jones/Getty Images
June 3, 2009  08:36 AM ET

Of course they do. He's one of the best coaches ever. Despite what all the haters will come in here and say.

June 3, 2009  09:22 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Of course they do. He's one of the best coaches ever. Despite what all the haters will come in here and say.

Yep. man's a winner.

June 3, 2009  09:26 AM ET

So if Coach K says no, who do you think the next candidates would be, or who would you want to see coaching the team?

June 3, 2009  09:28 AM ET
QUOTE(#3):

So if Coach K says no, who do you think the next candidates would be, or who would you want to see coaching the team?

First off, I agree that sticking with Coach K should be the first choice. If he wants the job, you stick with a winner.

But if he doesn't want the job, I am biased, but easily Tom Izzo.

June 3, 2009  09:54 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

Of course they do. He's one of the best coaches ever. Despite what all the haters will come in here and say.

I'm an admitted hater-
but honestly speaking....with all the talent that oozed from the
talent we had last year- can you honestly say that he is the
ONLY coach that could've gotten (or can get) the job done ??

- let someone else get the job- it's not fair if he's the only one
who gets the notoriaty.....it gives him too much advantage in
recruiting -

June 3, 2009  09:58 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

I'm an admitted hater- but honestly speaking....with all the talent that oozed from thetalent we had last year- can you honestly say that he is the ONLY coach that could've gotten (or can get) the job done ??- let someone else get the job- it's not fair if he's the only onewho gets the notoriaty.....it gives him too much advantage inrecruiting -

You would think that any coach could do it, but then we had Larry Brown in 2004. Same amount of talent and we didn't win. You don't change a thing until ya don't win the gold.

June 3, 2009  11:06 AM ET

with ya #6

June 3, 2009  11:12 AM ET

Good choice. A guy with class and best in the business....

June 3, 2009  12:01 PM ET

i may be coming at this from a diffrent angle, but one of the issues that the "dream" team had was that the rest of the world treated the olympics and world championships much in the same way that they treat the world cup (year round practices, up front commitment, yearly tune up games, etc.) something that might also be interesting to note, is that in the world cup coachs rarely stay for longer than 4 years ( the biggest exception is the USA). with that said, it might be a good idea if colangelo looks to someone else this time. dantoni maybe, but izzo most definatly

June 3, 2009  12:01 PM ET
QUOTE(#6):

You would think that any coach could do it, but then we had Larry Brown in 2004. Same amount of talent and we didn't win. You don't change a thing until ya don't win the gold.

Larry Brown had no where near the same talent. Same guys close. Same talent No way.

Melo, DWade, Lebron, all just finished their rookie seasons which was the longest season any of those three had ever played. Exhausted.

Lamar "Candyman" Odom the most inconsistent player I've ever seen. And Amare who stays injured. Allen Iverson who I would never want to represent my country. Steph Marbury, (see Iverson Comment).

Tim Duncan was Browns Go-To-Guy.

And, Coach K had 3 years with this team prior to the Olympics. Something NO other Dream Team has had.

But I hope he continues. Duke will just keep falling and falling.

June 3, 2009  12:08 PM ET
QUOTE(#10):

Larry Brown had no where near the same talent. Same guys close. Same talent No way.Melo, DWade, Lebron, all just finished their rookie seasons which was the longest season any of those three had ever played. Exhausted. Lamar "Candyman" Odom the most inconsistent player I've ever seen. And Amare who stays injured. Allen Iverson who I would never want to represent my country. Steph Marbury, (see Iverson Comment). Tim Duncan was Browns Go-To-Guy.And, Coach K had 3 years with this team prior to the Olympics. Something NO other Dream Team has had. But I hope he continues. Duke will just keep falling and falling.

I should rephrase. You want to say they had more talent in 08? Fine, but they had enough talent to win the gold easily. Brown took the most talented team in the tournament and got smoked by Puerto freaking Rico. We got beat by our own country. Brown was just a horrid coach in that setting. Say what you want about Coach K, but he doesn't lose that game. Now to the point at hand, all I am saying is lets not minimize what Coach K did in 2008 since even with great talent, there are coaches who can't handle that stage. So why risk bringing in one of those when you have a sure thing at your disposal.

June 3, 2009  12:09 PM ET

"but they had enough talent to win the gold easily."

They being 2004 team

June 3, 2009  12:27 PM ET

One of the best coaches in the game today

June 3, 2009  12:42 PM ET
QUOTE(#9):

i may be coming at this from a diffrent angle, but one of the issues that the "dream" team had was that the rest of the world treated the olympics and world championships much in the same way that they treat the world cup (year round practices, up front commitment, yearly tune up games, etc.) something that might also be interesting to note, is that in the world cup coachs rarely stay for longer than 4 years ( the biggest exception is the USA). with that said, it might be a good idea if colangelo looks to someone else this time. dantoni maybe, but izzo most definatly

I can only speak with soccer, but the rest of the world treats the world cup the same as us. At least the senior team, they have to deal with their players going to different leagues and they are spread out all over the world. I think what you are referring to are the teams like the U23, U20, U17 etc. etc.

Anyway, for me it comes down to what you think and what you know. We may think that any coach can win the Gold and be just as dominant as Coach K. I may think Izzo could come in, whip the team into shape, win the gold with a larger margin of victory than Coach K did, but I know that Coach K can win the gold. And for me, what I know trumps what I think. So if Coach K wants the job, then give him the job.

June 3, 2009  03:42 PM ET

let them have coach K, my Tarheels will just keep winning Championships! GO HEELS!

June 3, 2009  05:05 PM ET

I don't mind Coach K coaching the USA team. It is the only time I get to not hate him.

June 3, 2009  11:25 PM ET

I hope Coach K accepts the job again. He embodies what America is all about. It was very refreshing to see a group of players, not a bunch of hooligans in 2004 who can't keep their big mouth shut and piss everyone off.

We hear that this was called the REDEEM TEAM, then Coach K should be known as the creator of the redeemers. I hope he accepts the coaching position again

June 3, 2009  11:36 PM ET

I have had the good fortune to know an official for USA Basketball. The stories he tells about how K connected with the players and got them on the same page is amazing. Look at the MVP voting. The top 5 players in voting were all on the US team. The team had superstars but even they bought into the "system".

Go with him, but I would bring in an assistant coach as "coach in waiting" to learn the ropes.

June 5, 2009  08:54 AM ET
QUOTE(#10):

Larry Brown had no where near the same talent. Same guys close. Same talent No way.Melo, DWade, Lebron, all just finished their rookie seasons which was the longest season any of those three had ever played. Exhausted. Lamar "Candyman" Odom the most inconsistent player I've ever seen. And Amare who stays injured. Allen Iverson who I would never want to represent my country. Steph Marbury, (see Iverson Comment). Tim Duncan was Browns Go-To-Guy.And, Coach K had 3 years with this team prior to the Olympics. Something NO other Dream Team has had. But I hope he continues. Duke will just keep falling and falling.

Yeah right. Perhaps Roy "The Fraud" Williams should be hired to coach Team USA. That would guarantee us a shiny bronze. Since you have nothing of substance to offer, why don't you just sit this one out.

 
June 5, 2009  02:20 PM ET

Coach K all the way! Why screw with success. It's not that long since the US team was getting their a**es kicked. US basketball has the talent to win every olympics from now till forever but the key is getting players who want to play as a team and win for the USA. They have the players and Coach K has proven he is very capable of getting them to play as a team. The olympic committee should do everything in their power to keep that winning combination together. Go Team USA!

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