Nell Fortner hasn’t finished training yet.
On Monday, Canada’s basketball appointed the 66 -year -old chief coach of his national senior female team, which put the recently retired Georgia Tech coach on the margin for the near future.
This is not Fortner’s first foray into basketball or international course. She was the head coach of the US team at the 2000 Olympic Games and guided the Americans to a gold medal. In four years, training the United States, from 1997 to 2000, she accumulated a tremendously impressive record of 101-14.
Fortner’s appointment means that he could be training against the United States in the FIBA 2026 World Cup in Germany, or at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Regardless of what opponents are ahead for Canadians, Fortner is delighted with the challenge.
“I have followed the rise of this program for years and I have great respect for the culture that the organization and the players are building,” Fortner said in a statement. “This is a special group with talent, hardness and togeter and have the ability to achieve something great: I am excited to go to work.”
Fortner’s retirement from Georgia Tech at the beginning of April was a surprise for many, considering that he had just signed an extension until 2030 in February. In his retirement press conference, he lamented some of the changes that happened in university sports in the six years he had been in Atlanta, called his “bittersweet” retirement, but also said he had “much energy.” Fortner guided the Yellow Jackets three appearances in the NCAA tournament, including one, last season, and a general record of victories in loss of 110-75.
Before Fortner announced his retirement, five yellow jackets had entered the transfer portal, including the sixth player of the year of ACC, Dani Carnegie. After announcing their retirement, two more followed in three -year -old holders Kara Dunn and Tonie Morgan.
To Fortner, Georgia Tech, hired former Maryland Karen Blair assistant.
Fortner led Georgia Tech to only his second Sweet 16 partners and last season with 15 consecutive victories, marking the best start in the history of the program. In his career, which included stops in Auburn and Purdue, she has been appointed coach of the year in ACC, SEC and Big Ten.
Internationally, Fortner won to deal with void or the transfer portal. She can simply train basketball.
“What stood out with Nell was how, of course, the identity that our athletes helped to define, not only in terms of basketball experience, but in leadership, responsibility and culture,” said Steve Baur, general manager and vice president of Canada. “His approach reflected the expectations established by the group and the address that we believe this team should go.”
Canada has never medalled in the Olympic Games and has not medalled in a World Cup since 1986, he thought they approached in 2022, placing room.
The list presents a lot of talent, from WNBA players such as Bridget Carleton, Kia Nurse and Aaliyah Edwards, to rising university stars such as Duke’s Toby Fournier, Jasmine Bascoe de Villanova and Delaney Gibb of Byu.
Fournier and Gibb starred in the U17 team of Canada in the 2022 World Cup that took fourth place. Gibb was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season, while Fournier Tok Home the same honors in the ACC.