By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Starting the new cycle leading to the next Olympic Games, many changes are expected for France.
Apart from experienced players Nicolas Batum and Nando De Colo finishing their respective international careers, a new head coach is expected to succeed Vincent Collet. Keeping the experienced tactician has not been excluded but other options will be considered, as reported by L’Equipe on Wednesday.
The French Basketball Federation, FFBB, has yet to disclose plans for the next step of the senior national team.
Collet, 61, was hired in 2009. Adding to a long and history-making list of success as the head coach of Les Bleus, he guided his players to silver in the 2024 Olympic Games. The tournament was initially projected to conclude the run with a successor to be decided after the Paris Games.
Besides capturing a silver Olympic medal, Collet was named FIBA Best Coach of the Olympic Games. With the Sainte-Adresse native at the helm, France also ranked second in the Olympics held in 2021, won bronze in the FIBA World Cup of 2014 and 2019, and secured gold in the 2013 EuroBasket, More medals translated into silver in the 2011 and 2022 editions of EuroBasket and bronze in 2015.
Working as an assistant under Collet over recent years, 60-year-old Pascal Donnadieu is confirmed to stepping down from his position. After nearly four decades as the head coach of Nanterre 92 at the club level, he decided to retire leaving the Olympic tournament as the last challenge of his coaching career.
Photo Credit: FIBA