Gordie Herbert Named Head Coach of Canada's Men's Basketball Team

Gordie Herbert, a former Canadian Olympian and the coach who led Germany to a 2023 World Cup title, has been appointed as the head coach of Canada's men's national basketball team, set to officially take over in 2026. Herbert succeeds Jordi Fernandez, who guided Canada to a historic bronze at the 2023 World Cup and a fifth-place finish at the Paris Olympics. With Canada currently ranked sixth in the FIBA world rankings and boasting a strong core of NBA talent including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, R.J. Barrett, and Lu Dort, expectations are high for further international success. Herbert's immediate targets will be the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where Canada hopes to build on its recent progress. Team officials praised Herbert's championship pedigree and deep familiarity with the FIBA game as key assets for this next phase. The appointment marks a homecoming for Herbert, whose leadership is seen as crucial to helping Canada pursue its first Olympic basketball medal since 1936.