Filipino-American coach Erik Spoelstra has been appointed head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team through 2028, USA Basketball announced Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Spoelstra, who currently leads the Miami Heat in the NBA, was selected by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill and approved by the organization’s board of directors.
He will coach the national team at the 2027 FIBA Men’s World Cup in Doha, Qatar, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Spoelstra, whose mother is from San Pablo, Laguna, previously served as an assistant coach under Steve Kerr at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the U.S. won gold. He also led the 2021 USA Men’s Select Team that trained with the 2020 Olympic squad.
Now in his 18th season with the Miami Heat, Spoelstra is the NBA’s longest-serving coach with one team. He has guided Miami to two NBA titles in 2012 and 2013, six Finals appearances, and was part of the 2006 championship team as an assistant.
Before joining the Heat organization in 1995 as a video coordinator, Spoelstra played college basketball for the University of Portland and briefly played and coached in Germany.
The USA Men’s National Team has captured 17 Olympic gold medals, including five straight from 2008 to 2024, and five FIBA World Cup titles. Spoelstra’s appointment is subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
