David Metzendorf Named Head Coach of USA Open Men’s Team at 2025 Maccabiah
7/26/2024 1:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Philadelphia, PA – Maccabi USA named David Metzendorf as Head Coach for the 2025 Maccabiah Open Men's basketball team for the 22nd Maccabiah taking place July 2025 in Israel. Metzendorf, who is the associate head coach for Air Force men's basketball, enters his fifth season with the Falcon coaching staff.
"Coaching at the Academy has deepened my appreciation for what it means to represent our country … I'm honored to be coaching a team that will wear "USA" across its chest and compete on a world stage next summer," Metzendorf said. "I am humbled to have an opportunity to represent my Jewish heritage and follow in the footsteps of the Jewish basketball coaching icons before me."
The previous four selections for the Open Men's head coaching position include current Duke head coach John Sheyer (2022 selection but was unable to coach), Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb (2022 & 2017), former college coach and current ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg (2013) and Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl (2009).
Metzendorf has been a part of Joe Scott's staff at Air Force since 2021. He was recently elevated from assistant coach to associate head coach in 2023-24. In his second year with the team, the Falcons more than doubled their win total from five to 12. Air Force increased its win total in 2022-23 as well. In 2023-24, Air Force was the top three-point shooting team in Mountain West games, leading the conference with 163 three's, which is also a new program record for a conference season. Metzendorf, a native of Ann Arbor, Mich., also has previous coaching stints at Michigan, Holy Cross, Cornell and Williams College.
Maccabi USA is seeking Jewish basketball players to represent the United States at the 2025 Maccabiah Games in Israel, July 8-22, 2025. Maccabi USA will be fielding a national team in the following divisions: U16 (girls and boys), U18 (girls and boys), Open (women and men), and Masters 35+, 45+, and 55+ (men), as well as 3x3 basketball teams in U18 (girls and boys) and Open (women and men). Tryouts will be held August 16-18 in the Philadelphia area for the Junior and Open teams. The timing for the Masters teams tryouts will be announced at a later date. Interested participants can apply at www.maccabiusa.com.
According to Donna Orender, Maccabi USA Basketball Commissioner, "The Maccabiah Games held every four years is a singular lifetime experience for the best Jewish athletes from around the world. I carry lifetime memories and enduring pride from when I had the honor to represent the USA at this, the second largest sporting event in the world. It is a life enhancing and life changing experience on and off the basketball court."
The Maccabi USA Basketball teams will be part of the overall USA Team that will be 1,300+ members strong. They will compete in the largest Maccabiah in history and be an integral part of the largest gathering of Diaspora Jewry in Israel since the October 7th attacks.
The Maccabiah Games is more than an international sporting competition; it is a celebration of Jewish culture, unity and pride. Israel Connect, Maccabi USA's unique cultural and educational program, takes place for seven days prior to the start of the Games. All Junior, Open and Paralympic athletes participate in the program where they have the opportunity to tour historical and religious sites, take part in cultural identity seminars, connect with Israel and Israelis, and train with their teams, all while developing lifelong relationships.
The 2025 Maccabiah Games are the world's second largest international sporting event and will consist of over 10,000 athletes from 80 countries participating in over 40 different sports. A complete list of sports and age divisions offered is available at www.maccabiusa.com.
ABOUT THE MACCABIAH - The first Maccabiah was held in Israel in 1932 with athletes from 18 countries. By 2017, the games grew to include nearly 10,000 Jewish athletes from more than 60 countries, making it the second largest international multi-sport event, and one of the largest gatherings of the Jewish diaspora around the globe. Traditionally held every four years, the games have only been interrupted twice in its 90+ year history: by the Second World War and more recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2022, Maccabi USA sent its largest-ever delegation of more than 1,300 to Israel, larger than the USA Olympic Team.
ABOUT MACCABI USA - Maccabi USA builds Jewish pride through sports and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. Maccabi USA is the official sponsor of the United States team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American and European Maccabi Games, and the Maccabi Youth Games, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. Maccabi USA envisions a world where sports serve as a galvanizing force in strengthening Jewish pride, connection, and community.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maccabi USA Senior Director of Programs Shane Carr: scarr@maccabiusa.com
Maccabi USA
1511 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.561.6900
www.maccabiusa.com
www.facebook.com/maccabiusa
www.instagram.com/maccabiusa
"Coaching at the Academy has deepened my appreciation for what it means to represent our country … I'm honored to be coaching a team that will wear "USA" across its chest and compete on a world stage next summer," Metzendorf said. "I am humbled to have an opportunity to represent my Jewish heritage and follow in the footsteps of the Jewish basketball coaching icons before me."
The previous four selections for the Open Men's head coaching position include current Duke head coach John Sheyer (2022 selection but was unable to coach), Green Bay head coach Doug Gottlieb (2022 & 2017), former college coach and current ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg (2013) and Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl (2009).
Metzendorf has been a part of Joe Scott's staff at Air Force since 2021. He was recently elevated from assistant coach to associate head coach in 2023-24. In his second year with the team, the Falcons more than doubled their win total from five to 12. Air Force increased its win total in 2022-23 as well. In 2023-24, Air Force was the top three-point shooting team in Mountain West games, leading the conference with 163 three's, which is also a new program record for a conference season. Metzendorf, a native of Ann Arbor, Mich., also has previous coaching stints at Michigan, Holy Cross, Cornell and Williams College.
Maccabi USA is seeking Jewish basketball players to represent the United States at the 2025 Maccabiah Games in Israel, July 8-22, 2025. Maccabi USA will be fielding a national team in the following divisions: U16 (girls and boys), U18 (girls and boys), Open (women and men), and Masters 35+, 45+, and 55+ (men), as well as 3x3 basketball teams in U18 (girls and boys) and Open (women and men). Tryouts will be held August 16-18 in the Philadelphia area for the Junior and Open teams. The timing for the Masters teams tryouts will be announced at a later date. Interested participants can apply at www.maccabiusa.com.
According to Donna Orender, Maccabi USA Basketball Commissioner, "The Maccabiah Games held every four years is a singular lifetime experience for the best Jewish athletes from around the world. I carry lifetime memories and enduring pride from when I had the honor to represent the USA at this, the second largest sporting event in the world. It is a life enhancing and life changing experience on and off the basketball court."
The Maccabi USA Basketball teams will be part of the overall USA Team that will be 1,300+ members strong. They will compete in the largest Maccabiah in history and be an integral part of the largest gathering of Diaspora Jewry in Israel since the October 7th attacks.
The Maccabiah Games is more than an international sporting competition; it is a celebration of Jewish culture, unity and pride. Israel Connect, Maccabi USA's unique cultural and educational program, takes place for seven days prior to the start of the Games. All Junior, Open and Paralympic athletes participate in the program where they have the opportunity to tour historical and religious sites, take part in cultural identity seminars, connect with Israel and Israelis, and train with their teams, all while developing lifelong relationships.
The 2025 Maccabiah Games are the world's second largest international sporting event and will consist of over 10,000 athletes from 80 countries participating in over 40 different sports. A complete list of sports and age divisions offered is available at www.maccabiusa.com.
ABOUT THE MACCABIAH - The first Maccabiah was held in Israel in 1932 with athletes from 18 countries. By 2017, the games grew to include nearly 10,000 Jewish athletes from more than 60 countries, making it the second largest international multi-sport event, and one of the largest gatherings of the Jewish diaspora around the globe. Traditionally held every four years, the games have only been interrupted twice in its 90+ year history: by the Second World War and more recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2022, Maccabi USA sent its largest-ever delegation of more than 1,300 to Israel, larger than the USA Olympic Team.
ABOUT MACCABI USA - Maccabi USA builds Jewish pride through sports and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. Maccabi USA is the official sponsor of the United States team to the World Maccabiah Games, the Pan American and European Maccabi Games, and the Maccabi Youth Games, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. Maccabi USA envisions a world where sports serve as a galvanizing force in strengthening Jewish pride, connection, and community.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Maccabi USA Senior Director of Programs Shane Carr: scarr@maccabiusa.com
Maccabi USA
1511 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.561.6900
www.maccabiusa.com
www.facebook.com/maccabiusa
www.instagram.com/maccabiusa
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