Mike Krzyzewski already has a pair of Olympic gold medals under his belt as the head coach of the United States men’s basketball team and he will have the opportunity to add to his accomplishments next summer at the 2016 Rio games. Team USA managed to convince Coach K to stick around after he nearly stepped down in 2012 but general manager Bryan Colangelo isn’t convinced that won’t happen again. Here is a look at the four best candidates to replace Krzyzewski as the head coach of the U.S. men’s basketball team after 2016.
Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers
The U.S. men’s basketball team will never be short on talent but what they do need is an experienced and technically sound head coach that understands the players needs as well as how to get the most out of them. Rivers checks off all of those boxes as an excellent communicator with championship experience that has come to be known as a player’s coach. Team USA approached both Rivers and San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich about the possibility of taking over for Coach K in 2012 and while both candidates would be excellent fits, Popovich is already 66 years old and nearing his retirement. The Spurs will have their own challenges of retaining Pop. Meanwhile, Rivers is 13 years younger at 53.
John Calipari, Kentucky Wildcats
Calipari doesn’t have nearly the same level of experience at the pro level but he is highly regarded as one of the top basketball minds. His lack of NBA experience has nothing to do with a lack of opportunities. Calipari has thrived at Kentucky the same way that Krzyzewski has at Duke and he hinted at a possible move when he tweeted, “there’s not a college coach in the country that would say no to Jerry Colangelo if he asked them to coach the national team,” last September.
Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, Derrick Rose and John Wall all played their college ball for Calipari, so there is plenty of familiarity there. Also, with Coach K showing that a college coach can get it down, it has paved the way for Calipari or other college bench bosses. There is no doubt he would be a quality fit as coach K’s successor.
Billy Donovan, Oklahoma City Thunder
Rivers is an NBA coach, Calipari is a college coach and Donovan is making the transition from one to another as he joins the Thunder this season after a 19-year run at Florida. Donovan has coached Team USA on three different occasions and they never lost a game under his watch with a 5-0 record at the 2012 FIBA Americas Under-18 championship, a 9-0 record at the Under-19 World championship and a 5-0 record at the 2014 FIBA Americas Under-18 championship. Donovan is still 50 years old, so he could be the long-term solution team USA is looking for to take over. However, what he does this season at Oklahoma City may dictate whether he gets the call next season.
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Rick Carlisle, Dallas Mavericks
If there is a dark horse candidate to succeed Krzyzewski it would have to be Carlisle, who has coached three different NBA teams over 13 years and only once finished a season with a losing record. He doesn’t have the championship banners but he is a highly regarded head coach that is recognized as a brilliant technician. His ability to adjust and get the most out of his teams’ potential makes him an excellent candidate to coach the national team.
The one major question mark when it comes to Carlisle would have to be whether he can handle the different personalities that make up the roster as he has butted heads with a handful of players over the years – including most memorably Jason Kidd and Rajon Rondo. Managing personalities and egos is a big part of the job and the team USA brass will have to feel confident that Carlisle can handle that aspect of the job if they decide they want to name him as coach K’s successor.
