Gonzaga’s Mark Few to return as Team USA assistant for ’28 Olympics

“I’m grateful,” Daigneault said. “Even after being offered the position and accepting it, I can’t even conceptualize what it’ll feel like because I’ve never been to an Olympics. For everybody involved, I think it’s a very humbling and overwhelming experience. I’m sure it’s going to be the same for me.”

Bickerstaff — a soccer dad — took note this summer of how the nation came together in support of the U.S. national team during the World Cup. And he can’t wait to see what that feels like over the next couple of years.

“It just means the world to me,” Bickerstaff said of the appointment. “Growing up, you knew you always wanted to be a part of it in some way or form — to be able to say that you got to fight for a gold medal.”

The picks were announced by USA Basketball Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill, who is going through his second Olympic cycle in that role. Hiring Spoelstra was the first step, hiring the staff was the second step, and now Hill will continue moving toward assembling a roster for next year’s World Cup.

“This is a huge step in terms of putting together the leadership team,” Hill said. “One of the really neat parts is watching these great minds work together, collaborate, problem solve and figure out this journey, which is not as easy as everyone might think. With Mark, with J.B. and with Mark Few, we’ve got talented people who happen to be good people as well. And so, I’m beyond thrilled.”

Few has a longstanding relationship with Spoelstra, and Hill felt having some continuity between the staff from the 2024 Olympics — where the U.S. men won their fifth consecutive gold — and these 2027 and 2028 events was important.

“It’s the highest calling you can have as a basketball coach and it was such an honor to serve with USA Basketball during the last cycle,” said Few, who will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame next month. “To be asked to return is another tremendous honor. I’m humbled, I’m honored and I’m excited to get back to work alongside Coach Spoelstra and an outstanding staff.”

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