Michael Bree named head coach of Ireland men's basketball team

Former captain Michael Bree has been appointed the new head coach of the Ireland senior men's basketball team. Bree will take charge of the team from 1 September and has signed a four-year contract. He takes over from Mark Keenan who stepped down from the role in April.

Capped over 40 caps for Ireland between 2000 and 2006 – the Sligo man is currently assistant with Denmark’s senior men’s team and will start his new role at the conclusion of their FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifying campaign. Bree has been with the Danish national team since 2023.

The 45-year-old spent five years as Sweden’s Under-16 and U18 men’s head coach and worked with Gothenburg’s Högsbo Basket, following an eight-year professional playing career in France, Germany, Spain, Poland and Sweden between 2002 and 2010. After leaving Sligo in 1998, Bree played college basketball at NCAA Division 1 programme Davidson College in North Carolina.

Bree said: \"I am delighted and honoured to be taking on this new role within Basketball Ireland. I’m ecstatic to have the good fortune to represent our basketball nation once again on the international stage. We are an emerging nation within the international basketball community and to have the opportunity to add value to the programme is immensely motivating and makes me very proud. Throughout my career, Irish basketball has presented me with so many wonderful experiences and opened numerous doors to new and exciting possibilities. My wish is to offer at least as much in return, as we navigate the potential challenges that high-level competitive international basketball can present.\"

Basketball Ireland CEO John Feehan added: \"There’s been a huge interest in this position from coaches at home, in Europe and beyond, which is a testament to the growing respect for the ability of Irish players to compete at the highest level. Michael’s commitment to the ongoing development of Irish basketball mirrors Basketball Ireland’s ambition for the growth of the sport. I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings to the role in the over the next four years.\"

According to the source: RTE.ie.