Josh Longstaff has been named an assistant coach of the USA Basketball staff, under Jeff Van Gundy, that will compete in theFIBA World Cup qualifying games. Longstaff is the head coach of the Erie BayHawks, the Hawks’ affiliate in the NBA G League. Longstaff replaces Ronald Nored, who was named an assistant coach with the Hornets.
Qualifying games will be played in June, July and September.
“It’s an honor and humbling to be joining Coach Van Gundy’s staff and the USA Basketball family,” Longstaff said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to learning from the coaches and players and embracing the challenge that the competition will present as we prepare to represent our country.”
Longstaff led the BayHawks to the Southeast Division title last season, his first as head coach of the team. The BayHawks went 28-22, including a 17-7 record in the final 24 regular-season games, and advanced to the Eastern Conference final.
“This is a tremendous honor for Josh to represent the United States,” BayHawks General Manager Malik Rose said in a statement. “It’s a credit to him and the way he works. For Josh to be chosen out of all of the great coaches available to USA Basketball, says a great deal about who he is and how he’s regarded in the game of basketball. We’re extremely proud of Josh and are even more grateful he chose to coach our team. Our players and our fans are lucky to have him. He’s a star in the making.”
Longstaff was an assistant coach for the Knicks (2014-17) and Thunder (2010-14).
The BayHawks will move to College Park for the 2019-20 season.
The United States, 9-0 under Van Gundy, concludes the third and final first-round window of World Cup qualifying by facing Group C opponents Mexico on June 28 in Mexico City and Cuba on July 1 in Havana.
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