NBA G League Long Island Nets head coach Ronald Nored and former Georgetown University head coach John Thompson III have been named assistant coaches for the USA’s World Cup Qualifying Games in June/July and September. The duo will assist former NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy, who was announced on July 5, 2017, head coach of the USA Basketball men’s national teams that will compete in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying games.
The United States is scheduled to conclude the third and final first-round window of FIBA World Cup Qualifying play by facing Group C opponents Mexico on June 28 in Mexico City, and Cuba on July 1 in Havana. (the full Americas World Cup Qualifying schedule is available at usab.com/mens/wc-qualifying/schedule.aspx).
Already assured of being one of the three teams from its first-round group to advance to the FIBA World Cup Qualifying second round, Nored and Thompson also will assist Van Gundy during the USA’s first two second-round games, which will be held Sept. 13-17, 2018.
“I’m pleased that coach Thompson is able to return for the next two World Cup Qualifying windows, and I’m excited about the addition of Ronald Nored to our staff,” said Van Gundy, who has compiled a 9-0 record as head coach of USA Basketball teams since August 2017.
“We’re going to miss Mo McHone’s experienced voice, but it is exciting to add a new voice and perspective from a young and promising coach in Ronald.”
The June/July and September USA World Cup Qualifying teams again are expected to be comprised of G League players, with the possibility of again using players who have been playing overseas.
“I don’t think I can overstate how honored I am to be able to have this appointment under coach Van Gundy and to represent the United States,” said Nored. “I think for me this is a dream come true. Not only to represent my country, but also to work under such an esteemed coach. I know I’ll be challenged and I’ll learn a lot, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
In 2017-18, his second season at the helm of the G League Nets, Nored led Long Island to a 27-23 record, which was a 10-win improvement on 2016-17.
Nored spent two seasons (2013-15) with the NBA Boston Celtics organization, splitting time in his first season as a player development coach for the Celtics, while also serving as an assistant coach for their G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws. Prior to the 2014-15 season, he was named by Boston as player development director, where he took the lead organizational role for the players’ off-court development, in addition to his on-court coaching duties.
He also served one season (2015-16) as an assistant coach at Northern Kentucky University and was the head coach at Brownsburg High School (Ind.) for one season.
A 2012 graduate of Butler University, Nored was a member of the Bulldogs’ team that reached back-to-back NCAA National Championship games in 2010 and 2011. A two-time Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year, after completing his collegiate career Nored held the school record for games played (143), was tied for the all-time lead in steals (207), and ranked second in all-time assists (497).
“I am once again honored to work with the USA Basketball World Cup Qualifying team,” said Thompson, son of 1988 U.S. Olympic Team and longtime Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr. “It is a privilege to represent our country working under coach Van Gundy. I cannot wait to get into the gym with our players.”
Thompson, who also was an assistant coach with the 2008 USA Basketball U18 National Team that won a silver medal at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, most recently assisted Van Gundy and the February 2018 USA World Cup Qualifying Team to a pair of wins as the Americans downed Cuba 84-48 and defeated Puerto Rico 83-75 in home games in Santa Cruz, California.
Thompson possesses 17 years of collegiate head coaching experience and a stellar 346-193 (.641 winning percentage) all-time record.
Taking the coaching reigns at Georgetown in 2004, he directed the Hoyas for the next 13 seasons and compiled a 278-151 (.653) overall mark, including a 131-94 record in Big East Conference play. He led Georgetown to 11 straight post-season tournaments, including eight NCAA Tournaments and three NITs.
In 2006-07, Thompson guided the Hoyas to a 30-7 record, the Big East regular season and tournament championships and the NCAA Final Four.
Thompson also is a two-time winner of the Black Coaches Association Male Coach of the Year Award, who was named the 2007 National Association of Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year and the 2013 Big East Conference Coach of the Year.
Serving four seasons (2000-01–2003-04) as head coach at his alma mater, Princeton University, his teams compiled a 68-42 overall record and won or shared three Ivy League titles while making three post-season tournament appearances, including two NCAA tournaments (2001 and 2004) and one NIT (2002).
Thompson also served as an assistant coach at Princeton from 1995-2000 and played basketball at Princeton while majoring in politics. As a forward, he played four seasons (1984-85–1987-88) for legendary coach Pete Carril and ranks fourth on Princeton’s all-time assist leader list with 347. He was co-captain of the 1988 team and shared the B.F. Bunn trophy that year as one of the Tigers’ Most Valuable Players.
https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2018/05/mwcq-june-coaches.aspx
