Gordon Herbert

Gordon Herbert
Herbert in 2023
FC Bayern Munich
PositionHead coach
LeagueBBL
EuroLeague
Personal information
Born (1959-02-16) February 16, 1959 (age 65)
Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
NationalityCanadian / Finnish
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Career information
High schoolPenticton Secondary School Lakers
College
Playing career1982–1994
PositionSmall forward
Coaching career1994–present
Career history
As player:
1982–1983Hyvinkään Tahko
1983–1984BBC Toptours Aarschot
1984–1985Hyvinkään Tahko
1985-1988Turun NMKY
1988–1989Forssan Koripojat
1989–1991NMKY Helsinki
1991–1994Korihait
As coach:
1994–1996Korihait
1996–1999Espoon Honka
1999–2000Oberwart Gunners
2000–2001s.Oliver Würzburg
2001–2004Skyliners Frankfurt
2004–2006Paris Basket Racing
2006–2007Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez
2007–2008Aris
2008–2009Toronto Raptors (assistant)
2009–2010Espoon Honka
2010–2011Skyliners Frankfurt
2011–2012Alba Berlin
2013–2020Skyliners Frankfurt
2020–2021Avtodor
2024–presentBayern Munich
Career highlights and awards
As head coach
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Canada
Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1983 Edmonton
Men's basketball
Head Coach for  Germany
FIBA World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2023 Philippines–Japan–Indonesia
EuroBasket
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Germany

Gordon Walter Herbert (born February 16, 1959) is a Canadian-born Finnish[2][3][4] professional basketball coach and former player. Herbert is currently serving as the head coach of Bayern Munich in the Basketball Bundesliga and the EuroLeague. He was previously named the head coach of the Germany national team in 2021 and guided them to a bronze medal at the EuroBasket 2022, and to the gold medal at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Playing career

Born and raised in Penticton, British Columbia, Herbert attended two-year North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene,[5] and transferred to the University of Idaho in Moscow in 1979, where he played college basketball for the Vandals under head coach Don Monson.[6][7] Prior to his senior season in 1980–81, he injured his left wrist and was redshirted;[7][8] the Vandals were 25–4 and went to the NCAA tournament as Big Sky champions.

As a fifth-year senior in 1981–82, Herbert started at forward and Idaho won its first sixteen games, went 24–2 in the regular season,[9] and were sixth in the AP and UPI polls.[10][11] They advanced to the Sweet Sixteen,[12][13][14] and finished with the best record in school history at 27–3. While undefeated at 15–0, an article on the team appeared in Sports Illustrated.[15] Twice during the regular season, Herbert was the Big Sky player of the week,[16][17] and was second team all-conference.[18]

After college, he moved to Hyvinkää, Finland, in 1982, and joined Hyvinkään Tahko. He also represented Turun NMKY, Forssan Koripojat]], Helsingin NMKY and Korihait. In total, Herbert played professionally in Finland for 12 years with various teams. His club playing career ended in 1994, when he started coaching.

International career

Herbert also played with the senior Canadian national team at the 1984 Summer Olympics, where they finished just out of medal position in fourth place. He also played with Canada at the 1986 FIBA World Championship.

Coaching career

After ending his professional playing career in Finland, Herbert stayed in the country and started his coaching career in 1994 with Finnish Korisliiga team Korihait in Uusikaupunki, before moving to Espoon Honka in 1996.[19]

Herbert has coached many teams, including Frankfurt Skyliners, with which he won the German League title in 2004. He led the Skyliners to their 3rd German League finals appearance, against the league's first place Brose Bamberg, after beating other top-rated German teams, such as Alba Berlin, in the playoffs. He also coached French teams Paris and Pau Orthez, with which he won the French Cup in the 2006–07 season.

On July 7, 2007, he officially became the head basketball coach of the Greek club Aris. Herbert has also been an assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors in National Basketball Association (NBA).[20] In the 2015–16 season, Herbert won the FIBA Europe Cup with the Skyliners, after his team defeated Pallacanestro Varese in the Final. Herbert was also named the German Basketball Bundesliga Coach of the Year that season.[21]

Herbert's contract with the Skyliners ended in May 2020.[22] On July 2, 2020, he signed with Avtodor of the VTB United League.[23] He was sacked in March 2021.[24]

In September 2021, he was named head coach of the Germany national team.[25] He guided the German team to a bronze medal at the 2022 European Championships[26] and to the gold medal in the 2023 World Cup.[27] On 17 December 2023, Herbert was named the Coach of the Year in Germany.[28] On 11 January 2024, Herbert was named the Coach of the Year also in Finland, by the Finnish sports journalists.[29][30] On 16 May 2024, it was reported that Herbert will leave the Germany national team after the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[31]

On 25 July 2024, it was announced that Herbert would start as the head coach of Bayern Munich in the Basketball Bundesliga and the EuroLeague after the 2024 Summer Olympics.[32]

Coaching titles

Personal life

Born in Canada, Herbert acquired Finnish citizenship via naturalization in the late 1980s. He is a fluent Finnish speaker. His son Daniel Herbert is also a basketball coach[33] In September 2023, Herbert said in an interview that he wishes, someday in the future, to end his coaching career in Finnish Korisliiga.[34]

Herbert owns a house in Uusikaupunki and a summer house in Pyhämaa, and visits there frequently.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ Uudessakaupungissa asuva koripalloluotsi Gordon Herbert valittiin Vuoden valmentajaksi – "Eikös Rätykin sanonut, että Saksa on mahtava maa", Turun Sanomat, Joonas Jussila, 11 January 2024
  2. ^ Vuoden valmentaja -palkinnosta erikoista vääntöä – MM-kultaluotsilta selvät sanat valintakohusta: "He eivät ehkä tiedä", MTV Oy/ mtvuutiset.fi, 8 January 2024
  3. ^ Gordon Herbert vastaa tulikuumaan kysymykseen: ”Liikun Suomen passilla”, Iltalehti, 11 January 2024
  4. ^ MM-sankari Gordon Herbert valmistautui Urheilugaalaan Selkämeren arktisissa oloissa – ”Tähtipelaajani kääntyisi ovelta”, Yle, 10 January 2024
  5. ^ "Herbert awaiting call from homeland". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 3, 1979. p. 22.
  6. ^ "Idaho gets NIC ace". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 16, 1979. p. 24.
  7. ^ a b Missildine, Harry (January 13, 1982). "Vandals are lucky Herbert didn't choose hockey". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 17.
  8. ^ Killen, John (January 4, 1982). "Herbert: this Vandal is making up for lost time in a big way". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
  9. ^ Missildine, Harry (March 5, 1982). "Monson expects tougher tourney". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 15.
  10. ^ "Vandals No. 6". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). wire services. March 2, 1982. p. 13.
  11. ^ "Vandals climb to sixth place in AP national poll". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). wire services. March 3, 1982. p. 1C.
  12. ^ Missildine, Harry (March 15, 1982). "Idaho: Next stop, Provo". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 15.
  13. ^ Van Sickel, Charlie (March 15, 1982). "Vandals: Sweet Sixteen and..." Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 15.
  14. ^ Killen, John (March 15, 1982). "Kellerman's last shot paves way to Provo". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
  15. ^ McCallum, Jack (January 25, 1982). "A case of Vandalism in Big Sky country". Sports Illustrated. pp. 20–21.
  16. ^ "Idaho's Herbert shares Big Sky MVP honors". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. January 12, 1982. p. 2C.
  17. ^ "Vandals' Herbert week's top player". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. February 23, 1982. p. 22.
  18. ^ "Owens: Vandal guard named MVP". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 10, 1982. p. 1C.
  19. ^ Gordon Herbert: Honkaan helppo tulla, MTV Oy, mtvuutiset.fi, 25 August 2009
  20. ^ "Raptors:Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment – Management". NBA.com. Retrieved March 13, 2009.
  21. ^ "Beko BBL – Award Wanamaker und First Team". Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  22. ^ "Re-Start auch für Skyliners: Basketball-Bundesliga darf Saison mit Turnier fortsetzen". hessenschau.de. May 19, 2020. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  23. ^ "Gordie Herbert is the new head coach of Avtodor Saratov". Sportando. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  24. ^ Sunyer, Xavier Garcia i (April 7, 2020). "Gordon Herbert, cesado como entrenador del Avtodor Saratov". BasketMe (in Spanish). Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  25. ^ "Gordon Herbert ist neuer Herren-Bundestrainer". basketball-bund.de (in German). September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  26. ^ "Deutsche Basketballer gewinnen Bronze". Deutsche Welle (in German). September 18, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  27. ^ "Schroder delivers, Germany win the World Cup". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  28. ^ Upea kunnia! Suomalais-kanadalainen koripallovalmentaja Gordon Herbert Vuoden valmentaja Saksassa, Yle, 17 December 2023
  29. ^ Gordon Herbert on Vuoden valmentaja!, Yle, 11 January 2024
  30. ^ Vuoden valmentaja Gordon Herbert varasti show'n Urheilugaalassa: Siteerasi Seppo Rätyä nerokkaasti, MTV Oy/ mtvuutiset.fi, 11 January 2024
  31. ^ Bild: Herbert jättää Saksan koripallomaajoukkueen olympialaisten jälkeen, Yle, 16 May 2024
  32. ^ Suomalaisvalmentajalle huippupesti: Bayern München palkkasi Gordon Herbertin, Helsingin Sanomat, 25 July 2024
  33. ^ Gordon Herbert saapui 40 vuotta sitten Kanadasta Hyvinkäälle – siellä hän kohtasi Sarin, mikä muutti hänen elämänsä kulun, Ilta-Sanomat, 17 September 2023
  34. ^ Huippuluotsi tekee hirmujälkeä MM-kisoissa – puhuu nyt avoimesti yllätyspestistä Suomessa uran huipennukseksi, MTV Oy/mtvuutiset.fi, 3 September 2023
  35. ^ Maailmanmestarin koti on Uudessakaupungissa, ukilife.fi, 9 January 2024
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