TORONTO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Canada Basketball has announced that Germany-based Gordie Herbert will coach Canada for the upcoming second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers. 

"It is an absolute honour to have the opportunity to once again represent Canada as our journey towards the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 continues," said Herbert, who coaches German BBL club Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt.

Herbert, who turns 59 on February 16, will make his debut as Canada senior team head coach for the country's road games against Virgin Islands on February 22 and Bahamas on February 25. Both of those Qualifiers will be played in the Bahamas capital Nassau.

"IT IS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN REPRESENT CANADA AS OUR JOURNEY TOWARDS THE FIBA BASKETBALL WORLD CUP 2019 CONTINUES" Herbert

"With a wealth of experience, both as a player and a coach, Gordie is a good leader who has FIBA championship level coaching experience," said Rowan Barrett, Canada Basketball's Assistant General Manager/Executive Vice-President. "Having coached within the European domestic leagues, European competitions and the EuroLeague, Gordie is one of Canada's best international coaches and we are happy to have him back in our program."

Herbert, a native of Penticton, British Columbia, replaces Roy Rana, who is unavailable due to his coaching commitments at Ryerson University. Canada Basketball said Rana will continue to work with the team during the second window as his availability allows. 

"Despite being unavailable to coach in this window, Roy continues to be a valued member and important coaching resource for the senior men's national team program," Barrett added.

"WITH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE, BOTH AS A PLAYER AND A COACH, GORDIE IS A GOOD LEADER WHO HAS FIBA CHAMPIONSHIP LEVEL COACHING EXPERIENCE" Barrett

As a player, Herbert helped Canada to fourth place at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics and featured at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 1986 in Spain. He also won the gold medal at the 1983 Universiade in Edmonton.

Herbert was an assistant coach for Canada at the World Cup in 2002 and was in charge of the Georgia national team coach from 2005-07.

He is coaching a Frankfurt side that includes Canadian international Philip Scrubb, who is currently out injured. He has worked with a number of other Canadian players over the years with Skyliners, including Jermaine Bucknor, Aaron Doornekamp and Andrew Rautins. 

Canada are 1-1 in Group D of the Americas Qualifiers after a 93-69 victory at home over Bahamas before losing at Dominican Republic 88-76 in the November window.

FIBA