Raptors' Nurse officially named Team Canada head coach
Nick Nurse was officially unveiled on Monday as the new head coach of Canada’s senior men’s national team ahead of the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The agreement runs through the 2020 Olympics, should Canada qualify via a top-seven finish at the World Cup, according to The Athletic's Blake Murphy.
"I'm looking forward to working with this talented group of young players, and to seeing what we can do on the competitive global basketball stage," Nurse said in a statement. "I love the international game. I also see this as a real chance for me to learn from the world’s best, and for us to represent Canada with pride and distinction."
Gordie Herbert, who last coached Team Canada during the second window of World Cup qualifiers, was named associate head coach. Meanwhile, the rest of the coaching group will continue to take shape.
"I'm looking to put together a world-class staff together," Nurse told reporters, including Sportsnet's Michael Grange.
The Toronto Raptors bench boss led the franchise to its first-ever NBA title earlier in June after posting a 58-24 record during the regular season. In the process, Nurse became the ninth rookie head coach in NBA history to win a championship.
Previously, the Iowa native served as an assistant coach with the Raptors under Dwane Casey for five seasons. He also won two G League (formerly known as D-League) championships in 2011 and 2013 as head coach of the Iowa Energy and Rio Grande Valley Vipers, respectively.
Canada is seeking its first Olympic berth since a seventh-place finish at the 2000 Sydney Games. The team will begin its FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign on Sept. 1 against Australia.