Nell Fortner isn’t performed teaching simply but.
On Monday, Canada Basketball named the 66-year-old the top coach of its senior girls’s nationwide group, placing the not too long ago retired Georgia Tech coach again on the sidelines for the close to future.
This isn’t Fortner’s first foray into worldwide basketball, in fact. She was the top coach of Staff USA within the 2000 Olympics and guided the People to a gold medal. In 4 years teaching the U.S. — from 1997 by way of 2000 — she piled up a wildly spectacular document of 101-14.
Fortner’s appointment means she could possibly be teaching towards the U.S. on the 2026 FIBA World Cup in Germany, or on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
No matter what opponents are forward for the Canadians, Fortner is thrilled by the problem.
“I’ve adopted the rise of this program for years and have nice respect for the tradition the group and gamers are constructing,” Fortner mentioned in an announcement. “It is a particular group with the expertise, toughness and togetherness and so they have the flexibility to realize one thing nice — I’m excited to get to work.”
Fortner’s retirement from Georgia Tech in early April was a shock to many, contemplating she had simply signed an extension by way of 2030 in February. At her retirement press convention, she lamented among the modifications that had occurred in school sports activities within the six years she had been in Atlanta, referred to as her retirement “bittersweet” but additionally mentioned that she had “quite a lot of power left.” Fortner guided the Yellow Jackets to a few NCAA Match appearances — together with one this previous season — and an total win-loss document of 110-75.
Earlier than Fortner introduced her retirement, 5 Yellow Jackets had entered the switch portal, together with ACC Sixth Participant of the 12 months Dani Carnegie. After she introduced her retirement, two extra adopted in three-year starters Kara Dunn and Tonie Morgan.
To succeed Fortner, Georgia Tech employed former Maryland assistant Karen Blair.
Fortner led Georgia Tech to simply its second-ever Candy 16 and commenced this previous season with 15 consecutive wins, marking the very best begin in program historical past. Throughout her profession, which included stops at Auburn and Purdue, she’s been named Coach of the 12 months within the ACC, SEC and Huge Ten.
On the worldwide degree, Fortner gained’t need to take care of NIL or the switch portal. She will be able to simply coach basketball.
“What stood out with Nell was how naturally she aligned with the identification our athletes helped outline — not simply by way of basketball expertise, however in management, accountability and tradition,” mentioned Steve Baur, the final supervisor and vice chairman of Canada girls’s basketball. “Her method mirrored the expectations set by the group and the path we imagine this group must go.”
Canada has by no means medaled on the Olympics and hasn’t medaled at a World Cup since 1986, although they got here shut in 2022, inserting fourth.
The roster options a number of expertise, from WNBA gamers like Bridget Carleton, Kia Nurse and Aaliyah Edwards, to rising school stars like Duke’s Toby Fournier, Villanova’s Jasmine Bascoe and BYU’s Delaney Gibb.
Fournier and Gibb starred on Canada’s U17 group on the 2022 World Cup that positioned fourth. Gibb was named Huge 12 Freshman of the 12 months this previous season, whereas Fournier took dwelling the identical honors within the ACC.