Steve Nash returns coach’s whistle to Jay Triano
Bench boss back for second tour of duty will aim to once again qualify squad for Olympics
TORONTO — The last head basketball coach to guide the Canadian senior men’s national team to the Olympics is back in the saddle.
Jay Triano was named Thursday as the replacement for former bench boss Leo Rautins, who resigned last September following Canada’s failed bid to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
Triano led the Canadian contingent to a quarter- final appearance and seventh- place finish at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The men’s squad has not qualified for a Summer Games since.
“This is a huge honour,” Triano said at a news conference at the Air Canada Centre. “I’m very excited.” In returning to Canada Basketball, Triano will be reunited with two- time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash, who was named general manager of the program in May, but who has not played for Canada since Triano’s departure.
“When I think about who you want to run your team, coach your team, lead your team, obviously you want someone who is qualified,” Nash said. “You want someone who has great experience, which he has. But one of the things I love about Jay is that he’s a basketball lifer. It’s a beautiful thing when you see people passionate about what they do.”
In bringing Nash and Triano on board, Canada Basketball is making a concerted effort to revitalize its fledgling senior men’s program, which last made noise on the international stage in Sydney.
“Canada had a great run under the legendary, late Jack Donohue,” said Triano, 53, who became the first Canadian- born NBA head coach in history with the Toronto Raptors in 2008, and was recently named to the Portland Trail Blazers’ coaching staff.
The next goal for Canada is to qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Games, and with a very promising talent pool from which the country can draw, anything short of that would be a major disappointment.
Starting today, Canada Basketball will host a five- day training camp featuring 27 of the top U. S. prep school, CIS, international, American college and NBA players in the country. Those participating include Tristan Thompson, the fourth overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft, San Antonio Spurs guard Cory Joseph and a pair of 2012 draft selections: Orlando’s Andrew Nicholson and Boston’s Kris Joseph.
“When you look at the young group, it’s phenomenal. The average age of the kids at our camp this year is 21 years old, so it’s not going to happen overnight. But with the dedication of Steve [ Nash] and the staff that we’ve brought in, I’m really looking forward to developing those players,” Triano said.
Triano was originally relieved of his duties as Canada’s head coach in 2005.
He did not have his contract with the Raptors renewed after the 2010- 11 season, and worked last year as the club’s NBA scout.