Grant Hill to be USA Basketball’s next managing director
Grant Hill will succeed Jerry Colangelo as USA Basketball managing director, it was announced on Saturday.
The 81-year-old Colangelo is retiring after the Tokyo Olympics this summer. The former Phoenix Suns owner became managing director in 2005.
Hill, the No. 3 pick in the 1994 Draft, played 19 seasons in the NBA. Hill retired in 2013. Since then, he has worked as an analyst on NBA and college telecasts.
Great opportunity for Grant Hill
Grant Hill said he’s fired up about the new challenge that awaits him with the United States’ basketball governing body.
“It’s just an incredible opportunity, also an incredible challenge,” said Hill, a seven-time NBA All-Star. “I had the good fortune of participating in international play … and I have been a fan of Team USA going back to the 1984 Olympic team when I first started to fall in love with basketball. The more I thought about it, the more intrigued, excited and the more willing I was to roll up my sleeves and move forward with this awesome responsibility.”
A ringing endorsement
Grant Hill, 48, is the ideal candidate to replace Colangelo, according to Martin Dempsey, USA Basketball Board of Directors chair.
“Grant is a proven leader of consequence and character who will continue to help us achieve on our twin goals of winning international competitions and representing our country with honor,” the retired Army general said. “In making this announcement, I also want to emphasize how much everyone associated with USA Basketball appreciates Jerry Colangelo for everything he did for USA Basketball over the past 15 years.”
During Colangelo’s tenure, the U.S. men’s senior national team enjoyed sustained excellence. Team USA won Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016. He hired coach Mike Krzyzewski to oversee the team’s overhaul at the outset of his time in charge.
In 2017, Colangelo named San Antonio Spurs bench boss Gregg Popovich as Coach K’s successor.
Hill is a 2018 inductee of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.