Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is the new coach of Canada’s men’s basketball team.
Canada Basketball announced the hiring on Monday, less than two weeks after Nurse guided the Raptors to their first NBA championship.
Canada Basketball says Nurse’s contract runs through the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Penticton, B.C., native Gordie Herbert, one of three Canadian head coaches during a successful 12-game Americas qualifying run for this year’s World Cup in China, has been named an associate coach.
The 51-year-old Nurse has international basketball experience as an assistant with Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.
WATCH: Raptors’ Nick Nurse announced as Canada’s Senior Men’s National basketball team head coach
He spent 11 seasons coaching in Europe, mostly in the British Basketball League. The Iowan was named head coach of the Iowa Energy of the G League in 2007. His first NBA job was with the Raptors, joining Dwane Casey as an assistant in 2013. Nurse become head coach of the Raptors this season.
Canada is in Group H along with Senegal, Lithuania and Australia for the World Cup, Aug. 31-Sept. 15. The tournament serves as an Olympic qualifier.
WATCH: Raptor’s Nick Nurse shares remarks after being announced as head coach for Canada’s Senior Men’s National Team
“I’m looking forward to working with this talented group of young players, and to seeing what we can do on the competitive global basketball stage,” Nurse said in a statement. “I love the international game. I also see this as a real chance for me to learn from the world’s best, and for us to represent Canada with pride and distinction.”
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