Gordon Herbert

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Gordon Herbert

| image = 2025-01-05 ALBA Berlin gegen FC Bayern München (Basketball-Bundesliga 2024-25) by Sandro Halank–124.jpg

| image_size = 220

| caption = Herbert in 2025

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|2|16}}

| birth_place = Penticton, British Columbia, Canada

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = Canadian / Finnish

| league = BBL
EuroLeague

| team = FC Bayern Munich

| position = Head coach

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 6

| weight =

| high_school = Penticton Secondary School Lakers

| college = * North Idaho (1977–1979)

Idaho (1979–1982)

| career_start = 1982

| career_end = 1994

| career_number =

| career_position = Small forward

| coach_start = 1994

| coach_end =

| years1 = 1982–1983

| team1 = Hyvinkään Tahko

| years2 = 1983–1984

| team2 = BBC Toptours Aarschot

| years3 = 1984–1985

| team3 = Hyvinkään Tahko

| years4 = 1985-1988

| team4 = Turun NMKY

| years5 = 1988–1989

| team5 = Forssan Koripojat

| years6 = 1989–1991

| team6 = NMKY Helsinki

| years7 = 1991–1994

| team7 = Korihait

| cyears1 = 1994–1996

| cteam1 = Korihait

| cyears3 = 1996–1999

| cteam3 = Espoon Honka

| cyears4 = 1999–2000

| cteam4 = Oberwart Gunners

| cyears5 = 2000–2001

| cteam5 = s.Oliver Würzburg

| cyears6 = 2001–2002

| cteam6 = Canada (assistant)

| cyears7 = 2001–2004

| cteam7 = Skyliners Frankfurt

| cyears8 = 2004–2006

| cteam8 = Paris Basket Racing

| cyears9 = 2005–2006

| cteam9 = Georgia

| cyears10 = 2006–2007

| cteam10 = Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez

| cyears11 = 2007–2008

| cteam11 = Aris

| cyears12 = 2008–2009

| cteam12 = Toronto Raptors (assistant)

| cyears13 = 2009–2010

| cteam13 = Espoon Honka

| cyears14 = 2010–2011

| cteam14 = Skyliners Frankfurt

| cyears15 = 2011–2012

| cteam15 = Alba Berlin

| cyears16 = 2013–2020

| cteam16 = Skyliners Frankfurt

| cyears17 = 2018–2021

| cteam17 = Canada (assistant)

| cyears18 = 2020–2021

| cteam18 = Avtodor

| cyears19 = 2021–2024

| cteam19 = Germany

| cyears20 = 2024–present

| cteam20 = Bayern Munich

| cyears21 = 2025–present

| cteam21 = Canada

| highlights = ;As head coach:

FIBA Europe Cup champion (2016)
Bundesliga champion (2004)
French Cup winner (2007)
Finnish Cup winner (2009)
Bundesliga Coach of the Year (2016)
Austrian League Coach of the Year (2000)
Finnish Coach of the Year (2023)[https://www.ts.fi/urheilu/6211241 Uudessakaupungissa asuva koripalloluotsi Gordon Herbert valittiin Vuoden valmentajaksi – "Eikös Rätykin sanonut, että Saksa on mahtava maa"], Turun Sanomat, Joonas Jussila, 11 January 2024
All-German Sport's Coach of the Year (2023)

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{bk|CAN}}}}

{{MedalSport|Head Coach for {{GER}}}}

}}

Gordon Walter Herbert (born February 16, 1959) is a Canadian and Finnish[https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/vuoden-valmentaja-palkinnosta-erikoista-vaantoa-mm-kultaluotsilta-selvat-sanat-valintakohusta-he-eivat-ehka-tieda/8851234#gs.2xiu2m Vuoden valmentaja -palkinnosta erikoista vääntöä – MM-kultaluotsilta selvät sanat valintakohusta: "He eivät ehkä tiedä"], MTV Oy/ mtvuutiset.fi, 8 January 2024[https://www.iltalehti.fi/koripallo/a/cc594c73-d214-4e9b-a18b-87354233b68d Gordon Herbert vastaa tulikuumaan kysymykseen: ”Liikun Suomen passilla”], Iltalehti, 11 January 2024[https://yle.fi/a/74-20068176 MM-sankari Gordon Herbert valmistautui Urheilugaalaan Selkämeren arktisissa oloissa – ”Tähtipelaajani kääntyisi ovelta”], Yle, 10 January 2024 professional basketball coach and former player. Herbert is currently serving as the head coach of Canada national team and 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,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8PVLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8O0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1748%2C1199246 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Herbert awaiting call from homeland |date=March 3, 1979 |page=22}} and transferred to the University of Idaho in Moscow in 1979, where he played college basketball for the Vandals under head coach Don Monson.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VANMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IPkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6047%2C134827 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |title=Idaho gets NIC ace |date=May 16, 1979 |page=24}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LU9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h-4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2105%2C4632294 |work=Spokesman-Review|location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Vandals are lucky Herbert didn't choose hockey|last=Missildine|first=Harry|date=January 13, 1982|page=17}} Prior to his senior season in {{nowrap|1980–81,}} he injured his left wrist and was redshirted;{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gqpfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2115%2C1849334|work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |last=Killen |first=John |title=Herbert: this Vandal is making up for lost time in a big way |date=January 4, 1982 |page=1C}} the Vandals were {{nowrap|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 {{nowrap|24–2}} in the regular season,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8upWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7128%2C1547815 |work=Spokane Chronicle |location=(Washington) |last=Missildine |first=Harry |title=Monson expects tougher tourney |date=March 5, 1982 |page=15}} and were sixth in the AP and UPI {{nowrap|polls.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7-pWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7290%2C276586 |work=Spokane Chronicle |location=(Washington)|agency=wire services |title=Vandals No. 6 |date=March 2, 1982 |page=13}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TplfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4924%2C957784 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho)|agency=wire services |title=Vandals climb to sixth place in AP national poll |date=March 3, 1982 |page=1C}}}} They advanced to the Sweet Sixteen,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pvhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6111%2C6045848|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=Spokane, Washington|title=Idaho: Next stop, Provo|last=Missildine|first=Harry|date=March 15, 1982|page=15}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-upWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6623%2C3844087 |work=Spokane Chronicle |location=(Washington) |last=Van Sickel |first=Charlie |title=Vandals: Sweet Sixteen and.... |date=March 15, 1982 |page=15}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WZlfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4186%2C6089584 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho)|last=Killen |first=John |title=Kellerman's last shot paves way to Provo |date=March 15, 1982 |page=1C}} and finished with the best record in school history {{nowrap|at 27–3.}} While undefeated at 15–0, an article on the team appeared in Sports Illustrated.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1982/01/25/540928/a-case-of-vandalism-in-big-sky-country |magazine=Sports Illustrated |title=A case of Vandalism in Big Sky country |last=McCallum|first=Jack|date=January 25, 1982|pages=20–21}} Twice during the regular season, Herbert was the Big Sky player of the week,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iqpfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5459%2C4665766 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho's Herbert shares Big Sky MVP honors |date=January 12, 1982 |page=2C}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=W09OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1u4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6945%2C2966352 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Vandals' Herbert week's top player |date=February 23, 1982 |page=22}} and was second team all-conference.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VJlfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2246%2C3840537 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Owens: Vandal guard named MVP |date=March 10, 1982 |page=1C}}

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.[https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/gordon-herbert-honkaan-helppo-tulla/3590650#gs.9207i3 Gordon Herbert: Honkaan helppo tulla], MTV Oy, mtvuutiset.fi, 25 August 2009

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).{{cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/raptors/news/mlsel_management.html|title=Raptors:Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment – Management|website=NBA.com |access-date=March 13, 2009}} 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.beko-bbl.de/de/n/news/2016/5-mai/award-wanamaker-und-first-team/ |title=Beko BBL – Award Wanamaker und First Team |access-date=May 13, 2016 |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617101455/http://www.beko-bbl.de/de/n/news/2016/5-mai/award-wanamaker-und-first-team/ |url-status=dead }}

Herbert's contract with the Skyliners ended in May 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.hessenschau.de/sport/basketball/re-start-auch-fuer-skyliners-basketball-bundesliga-darf-saison-mit-turnier-fortsetzen,basketball-fortsetzung-100.html|title=Re-Start auch für Skyliners: Basketball-Bundesliga darf Saison mit Turnier fortsetzen|date=May 19, 2020|work=hessenschau.de|access-date=May 30, 2020|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125084305/https://www.hessenschau.de/sport/basketball/re-start-auch-fuer-skyliners-basketball-bundesliga-darf-saison-mit-turnier-fortsetzen,basketball-fortsetzung-100.html|url-status=dead}} On July 2, 2020, he signed with Avtodor of the VTB United League.{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/gordie-herbert-is-the-new-head-coach-of-avtodor-saratov/|title=Gordie Herbert is the new head coach of Avtodor Saratov|date=July 2, 2020|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=July 2, 2020}} He was sacked in March 2021.{{Cite web|last=Sunyer|first=Xavier Garcia i|title=Gordon Herbert, cesado como entrenador del Avtodor Saratov|url=http://www.basketme.com/noticias-europa/110229/gordon-herbert-cesado-como-entrenador-del-avtodor-saratov|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=BasketMe|date=April 7, 2020|language=es}}

In September 2021, he was named head coach of the Germany national team.{{Cite web|title=Gordon Herbert ist neuer Herren-Bundestrainer|url=https://www.basketball-bund.de/gordon-herbert-neuer-herren-bundestrainer/|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=basketball-bund.de|date=September 6, 2021 |language=de}} He guided the German team to a bronze medal at the 2022 European Championships{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2022 |title=Deutsche Basketballer gewinnen Bronze |url=https://www.dw.com/de/deutsche-basketballer-gewinnen-bronze/a-63164664 |access-date=November 4, 2022 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=de}} and to the gold medal in the 2023 World Cup.{{Cite web |title=Schroder delivers, Germany win the World Cup |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2023/news/game-report-germany-v-serbia |access-date=2023-09-10 |website=FIBA.basketball |date=September 10, 2023 |language=en}} On 17 December 2023, Herbert was named the Coach of the Year in Germany.[https://yle.fi/a/74-20013000/64-3-198877 Upea kunnia! Suomalais-kanadalainen koripallovalmentaja Gordon Herbert Vuoden valmentaja Saksassa], Yle, 17 December 2023 On 11 January 2024, Herbert was named the Coach of the Year also in Finland, by the Finnish sports journalists.[https://yle.fi/a/74-20069011/64-3-202642 Gordon Herbert on Vuoden valmentaja!], Yle, 11 January 2024[https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/vuoden-valmentaja-gordon-herbert-varasti-show-n-urheilugaalassa-siteerasi-seppo-ratya-nerokkaasti/8855900#gs.2xjb5h Vuoden valmentaja Gordon Herbert varasti show'n Urheilugaalassa: Siteerasi Seppo Rätyä nerokkaasti], MTV Oy/ mtvuutiset.fi, 11 January 2024 On 16 May 2024, it was reported that Herbert will leave the Germany national team after the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[https://yle.fi/a/74-20013000/64-3-228158 Bild: Herbert jättää Saksan koripallomaajoukkueen olympialaisten jälkeen], Yle, 16 May 2024

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.[https://www.hs.fi/urheilu/art-2000010588091.html Suomalaisvalmentajalle huippupesti: Bayern München palkkasi Gordon Herbertin], Helsingin Sanomat, 25 July 2024

Canada Basketball selected Herbert to be the head coach of its men's national team on 1 May, 2025, filling the vacancy that was left by Jordi Fernandez. Herbert will lead the team to the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup and the 2027 FIBA World Cup in the lead-up to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where the Canadians aim to win their first Olympic medal in men's basketball since 1936. [https://www.sportsnet.ca/basketball/article/canada-basketball-closing-in-on-new-mens-womens-coaches Canada Basketball closing in on new men's, women's coaches], Michael Grange, 1 May, 2025

Coaching titles

Germany (2021–2024):
FIBA World Cup: 2023
Skyliners Frankfurt (2001–04, 2010–11, 2013–2020):
Basketball Bundesliga: 2003–04
FIBA Europe Cup: 2015–16
Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez (2006–07):
French Cup: 2006–07
Espoon Honka (1996–99, 2009–10):
Finnish Cup: 2009

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[https://www.is.fi/koripallo/art-2000009856205.html Gordon Herbert saapui 40 vuotta sitten Kanadasta Hyvinkäälle – siellä hän kohtasi Sarin, mikä muutti hänen elämänsä kulun], Ilta-Sanomat, 17 September 2023 In September 2023, Herbert said in an interview that he wishes, someday in the future, to end his coaching career in Finnish Korisliiga.[https://www.mtvuutiset.fi/artikkeli/huippuluotsi-tekee-hirmujalkea-mm-kisoissa-puhuu-nyt-avoimesti-yllatyspestista-suomessa-uran-huipennukseksi/8768862#gs.0lxknz Huippuluotsi tekee hirmujälkeä MM-kisoissa – puhuu nyt avoimesti yllätyspestistä Suomessa uran huipennukseksi], MTV Oy/mtvuutiset.fi, 3 September 2023

Herbert owns a house in Uusikaupunki and a summer house in Pyhämaa, and visits there frequently.[https://ukilife.fi/maailmanmestarin-koti-on-uudessakaupungissa/ Maailmanmestarin koti on Uudessakaupungissa], ukilife.fi, 9 January 2024

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20180209063126/http://archive.fiba.com/pages/eng/fa/p/rpp//q/gordon%20herbert/pid//_//players.html FIBA Player Profile]
[http://www.euroleague.net/competition/coaches/showcoach?pcode=WBR Euroleague.net Coach Profile]

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Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alba Berlin basketball coaches

Category:Aris B.C. coaches

Category:Basketball people from British Columbia

Category:Basketball players at the 1984 Summer Olympics

Category:Canadian expatriate basketball people in Finland

Category:Canadian expatriate basketball people in France

Category:Canadian expatriate basketball people in Germany

Category:Canadian expatriate basketball people in Greece