The winning coaching staff that guided the U.S. men's national basketball team to the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics is returning as the team looks toward the 2012 London Games.
Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski will again lead the program from 2010-2012. Jim Boeheim of Syracuse University, New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trailblazers coach Nate McMillan will return as the assistants.
After the initial roster of players is determined, Krzyzewski says the first goal is to play well at the upcoming world championships next year in Turkey.
"We have qualified for that competition by winning the Olympics. If we win the world championships, then we do not have to qualify for the Olympics in 2011," he said. "All of these players are going to be given full consideration going forward for both competitions. And it gives us a chance to see them and see who is going to be added to the pool of players that we have."
Krzyzewski and his staff are among the most respected coaches in basketball, which originated in the United States. Because the coaches are most familiar with the style of play in the United States, Krzyzweski says he and his staff always have new things to learn about international basketball.
"Some of the techniques, especially team-wise offensively, that people use around the world are very, very interesting," he said. "Very difficult to defend. We would bring in international officials to help teach us about it. There is deep respect from all of us for the international game."
The U.S. men's basketball team called itself the 'Redeem Team' at the Beijing Olympics because it had not won a major international title since 2000. In the gold medal game last August, the United States held off a spirited team from Spain to win, 118-107.
