The New Zealand Breakers have secured a major coup, appointing FIBA World Cup-winning coach Gordon Herbert on a two-year deal to lead the club into its next chapter.
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Herbert arrives as one of the most respected figures in international basketball, bringing a decorated coaching career that spans Europe’s elite leagues and the highest levels of FIBA competition. He will also continue in his role as head coach of the Canadian national team alongside his NBL commitments.
A statement from the club described Herbert as a “world-class strategist”, with Breakers president of basketball operations Dillon Boucher praising his proven ability to deliver at the top level.
“Gordon is a world-class strategist with a proven track record of winning at the highest possible level,” Boucher said.
“His international pedigree and ability to manage elite talent perfectly align with our vision to compete at the highest level in the NBL and represent New Zealand on the world stage.”
Herbert’s coaching resumé includes senior roles across Europe, including in the EuroLeague with Bayern Munich, but his defining achievements have come on the international stage.
He guided Germany through a golden era between 2021 and 2024, transforming the program into a global force. That run peaked with an unbeaten campaign at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, where Germany claimed their first-ever title, followed by a top-four finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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His success also includes multiple domestic honours, with league titles in Germany and standout recognition across Austria, Finland and France, underlining a career built on sustained success across different basketball cultures.
“I am incredibly excited to join the Breakers,” Herbert said.
“This is a club with a prestigious history and a clear ambition for the future. We want to play a fast-paced style of basketball that delivers winning results.”
Club chairman and owner Marc Mitchell said Herbert’s arrival marked a key step in building a championship-contending program.
“The Breakers are putting in place the key pieces of our championship puzzle, and Gordon has proven he can deliver championship winning, high-performance teams,” Mitchell said.
“When the Club started this process, we committed to searching the globe to find one of the world’s best to lead the BNZ Breakers. We are thrilled to get someone of Gordie’s calibre to join us in New Zealand and lead us on the court.”
Herbert steps into a roster featuring key names including Sam Mennenga, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, D. J. Vasiljevic and Kouat Noi, as the Breakers look to reset after an inconsistent campaign despite lifting the NBL Ignite Cup.
The appointment follows the departure of Petteri Koponen, with New Zealand having also considered other candidates during the search, including Judd Flavell and Mody Maor, before landing one of the most accomplished coaches in world basketball.