By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Vincent Collet has been confirmed by the French Federation of Basketball to continue as the head coach of the senior national team of the country. The longtime head coach of France’s senior national team will remain in charge for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris.
Collet, 60, was contracted through the Olympic Games. However, the Blues’ disappointing performance in the 2023 FIBA World Cup raised some doubts about his future with the national team.
After capturing bronze medals in 2014 and 2019 under the guidance of Collet, France was limited to 18th place in last summer’s edition of FIBA’s flagship event.
Collet managing multiple major international tournaments and connected to numerous successful tournaments has been the head coach since 2009.
FFBB president Jean-Pierre Siutat labeled Collet as the ideal play-caller for next summer’s Olympic Games citing his ability to ‘bounce back’ in a press conference held on Tuesday.
Boris Diaw on Joel Embiid
The discussions stretched to Joel Embiid opting to play for Team USA in the Olympics over France and Cameroon. “We never initiated the process of Joel playing for France. He presented himself to us a few years ago. He since has been telling us he wanted to play with us,” explained FFBB general manager Boris Diaw.
“We asked him to give us a definite answer until October 10,” he added confirming the deadline set by the French Federation, “Joel told us that he had changed his mind and did not wish to play for the Blues. Of course, we were ready to welcome him. But we simply understood him changing his mind.”
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL