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. This decision was disclosed by Canada Basketball in a recent press release. Mitchell will be stepping in for Gordie Herbert, the current head coach of Bayern Munich in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga.
Expressing his gratitude, Mitchell stated, “I am honored for the opportunity to represent our nation again. Working alongside Gordie Herbert in the upcoming quad, our primary goals are growth and success. Securing a spot in the World Cup is our top priority, which necessitates a competitive and victorious performance in every game.”
Joining Mitchell on the coaching staff are assistant coaches JD Jackson, Hanno Mottola, and Phil Jevtovic. The team is set to compete against the Bahamas in two matches, scheduled for Friday in Nassau and December 1 in Toronto.
Mitchell previously guided Canada to a fourth-place finish at the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup earlier this year. Additionally, he contributed as an assistant coach in Canada’s victory over the United States for the bronze medal at the 2023 World Cup.