Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski's Olympic coaching days may not be in the past just yet.
Krzyzewski acknowledged to Sports Illustrated Saturday night that he is considering returning to the sidelines to coach the United States Olympic basketball team in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.
"There's a chance," Krzyzewski told Sports Illustrated. "That's correct."
Krzyzewski has been the savior of USA Basketball since he first took over the job in 2005. The team, which garnered only a bronze medal in 2004 despite using NBA athletes, had lost its Olympic dominance of the sport.
Under Krzyzewski's leadership, however, the team has gone 62-1, including gold medal victories in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Olympics in London. USA Basketball also won the 2010 World Championship in Istanbul, after taking home a bronze medal in the 2006 World Championships in Japan.
USA lost to Greece in the semifinals of that event to constitute its only loss under Krzyzewski.
CBSSports.com reported that a large part of Krzyzewski's success stemmed from his ability to convince the NBA's best players to participate in the Games.
According to Sports Illustrated, Krzyzewski said Saturday that he has been talking with USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo about his potential return to his Olympic job"quite a bit."
Colangelo added Saturday that the discussions have revolved around Krzyzewski coming back "in installments."
"I think it's very close to being resolved," Colangelo told SI. "That's all I can say for sure. Give it another week and it should be resolved."
Krzyzewski announced his retirement before the 2012 London Olympics. In February, he reiterated to ESPN in a radio interview that he had no intention of returning as coach.
Sports Illustrated reported that Krzyzewski's return is considered probable by many in the basketball community. His duties would include the 2014 World Championships in Madrid as well as the 2016 Olympics.
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