TORONTO (Feb. 13, 2025) – Canada Basketball announced today that Nathaniel Mitchell has been named Head Coach for the upcoming February window of the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers.

“I’m excited to continue leading our coaching staff during the FIBA Men's AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers," said Mitchell. "After strong performances from our team both in St. Catharines and Saskatoon, we're looking to finish the job and punch our ticket to this summer's AmeriCup."

Mitchell made his Senior Men’s National Team head coaching debut at the FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2022 in Brazil, where the team finished fourth—tied for their highest finish in the tournament since the FIBA Americas Championship for Men in 2009. 

Originally from Toronto, Mitchell has been part of the Senior Men’s National Team coaching staff since 2016. He served as an assistant coach at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023, where Canada won a historic bronze medal—the program’s first-ever medal at a men’s World Cup. 

He also led Canada’s U23 Men’s National Team at GLOBL JAM in 2022 and 2023.

Mitchell is currently the head coach of the Guangzhou Loong Lions in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). His professional coaching experience includes time in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks, as well as four seasons in the NBA G League as an assistant with the Raptors 905 and the Maine Red Claws.

Joining Mitchell on the bench for the February FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers window will be assistant coaches Jon Goodwillie, Michael Meeks, and Phil Jevtovic. The trio returns after coaching Canada in both of the team’s first two Qualifier windows in St. Catharines and Saskatoon.

Canada will face the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo on Friday, Feb. 21 (5:10 p.m. PT / 7:10 p.m. ET) before taking on Mexico in San Luis Potosí City on Monday, Feb. 24 (5:00 p.m. CT / 8:00 p.m. ET) in the third window of FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers. Fans can watch all the action live on Sportsnet.

Entering the final pair of Qualifiers, Canada remains the only undefeated team in Group C. With Nicaragua already qualified as host for this summer’s FIBA Men’s AmeriCup 2025, the top two remaining teams in Group C after this window will secure their spots.

Canada is currently ranked fifth in the latest FIBA World Ranking Men, presented by Nike. The rankings were updated following the Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.