Nathaniel Mitchell has been appointed as the head coach of the Canadian men’s national basketball team for the initial qualifying phase of the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup. Canada Basketball revealed this coaching decision recently. Mitchell will step in for Gordie Herbert, who is currently coaching Bayern Munich, the defending champions in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga.
Expressing his gratitude and honor, Mitchell stated in a press release, “I am thankful for the opportunity to represent our nation once again. Working alongside Gordie Herbert, our aim for the upcoming period is to progress and achieve success. Our main focus is on qualifying for the World Cup, which requires us to compete fiercely and secure victories in every game.”
Canada’s coaching staff will also include assistant coaches JD Jackson, Hanno Mottola, and Phil Jevtovic. The team is scheduled to play against the Bahamas in two matches, the first in Nassau on Friday and the second in Toronto on December 1.
Mitchell previously guided Canada to a fourth-place finish at the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup held in August. Additionally, he served as an assistant coach under Jordi Fernandez’s leadership when Canada secured the bronze medal by defeating the United States at the 2023 World Cup.
