It looks as if Kentucky head coach John Calipari, Colorado head coach Tad Boyle and Wake Forest head coach Danny Manning will be having a reunion of sorts. The trio were all named coaches for the 2017 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Cup Team. The three were together at Kansas in the mid-80s, with Calipari serving as an assistant coach and Boyle and Manning as players, respectively.
Calipari will take over head coaching duties, with Boyle and Manning serving as assistants. Calipari, a Naismith Basketball Memorial Hall of Fame coach, is excited for the opportunity to coach with two former players of his.
“I coached both Tad and Danny at the University of Kansas,” Calipari said. “I’m so proud of what they’ve become as coaches and as representatives of this game. I’m looking forward to reuniting and learning from both of these special coaches.”
Boyle helped the USA en route to a bronze medal as an assistant coach at the 2015 Pan American Games. Despite the Colorado’s current struggles, Boyle has lead the Buffs to a 148-93 record, with four NCAA tournament appearances.
“It’s a great honor,” Boyle remarked. “Number one, to represent my country and United States basketball, but secondly, to work with a guy like John Calipari is an honor. It’s also an honor to be coaching alongside an old teammate in Danny Manning.”
Tryouts will take place June 18-25 at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. to select the 12-man team. The team looks to defend their 2013 and 2015 FIBA U19 gold-medal finishes July 1-9 in Cairo, Egypt.
