Jerry Colangelo Speaks on Mike Krzyzewski's Future with USA Basketball

Mike Krzyzewski's time as head coach of the United States basketball team is coming to an end after the 2016 Rio Olympics, but USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo hopes that it isn't the end of Coach K's time with Team USA.   

Colangelo discussed Tuesday on ESPN Radio's Capital Games podcast (via ESPN.com's Andy Katz) how he envisions Krzyzewski taking over his role with USA Basketball down the line:

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I want Coach K's role after 2016 to be alongside me and get as much experience as he possibly can. The real question mark is, how many more years will be coaching at Duke? I don't think he would be able to handle or be eligible to serve in my capacity in USA Basketball if he's still coaching. We'll see what happens in these next four years. But if it were left to me, he would replace me at the appropriate time—sometime after 2020.

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In May, Duke athletic director Kevin White said Krzyzewski is signed with the Blue Devils through the 2020-21 season and that he doesn't believe the 69-year-old will leave before that, per Laura Keeley and Andrew Carter of the News & Observer:

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Mike has a five-year contract in place and his intention is to honor that contract at a minimum. Given his unparalleled passion for leadership and the sport of basketball it would not surprise me at all if Mike coaches beyond his current contact. To be sure, and I've said this many times, we have the greatest coach at any level and in any sport representing Duke University. So I'd stand behind any of that. And he's in great shape.

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Krzyzewski took over as head coach of Team USA in October 2005 ahead of the 2008 Olympics. The United States earned gold in Beijing and then defended its title in the 2012 Olympics in London. Coach K also led Team USA to two gold medals in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Last October, USA Basketball announced that San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich will be assuming head coaching duties after Krzyzewski leaves his post.

Maintaining a level of continuity would obviously be nice for USA Basketball when Colangelo ultimately steps down as chairman and managing director of the senior national team. Colangelo told Katz he will stay until 2020 as a courtesy to Popovich.

Colangelo's projected departure is timed well with the end of Krzyzewski's current deal, but there are a number of factors at play that could impact Coach K's desire to take such a prominent position with USA Basketball.

He may still want to coach beyond his contract with Duke, or, at the other end of the spectrum, he could be looking to get out of the game altogether.

Krzyzewski will be 74 in the spring of 2021. He missed the Blue Devils' win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Feb. 2 after spending two nights in a hospital for precautionary reasons. He also had knee replacement surgery in April.

Moving Coach K up the USA Basketball pyramid sounds like a nice idea in theory, but Colangelo would be smart to cast a wide net for his possible replacement in four years.